Cessna 172N N6332D

Summary

On 20 March 2022 at about 03:35 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N6332D was involved in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 March 2022 at 03:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Talkeetna (TKA)

Coordinates

62.3152, -150.0999

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N6332D

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Palmer

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC22LA024

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper positioning of the fuel selector during takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, after takeoff when the airplane was about 150 to 200 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing in a snowcovered field, during which the airplane nosed over, causing substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was in the left fuel tank position. The left fuel tank contained about 3 gallons of fuel, 1.5 gallons of which was usable. The Cessna Pilot’s Operating Handbook required the fuel selector handle to be in the “both” position for takeoffs and landings. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the engine. Given the fuel selector position, which was not consistent with takeoff procedures, and the limited fuel in the left tank, it is likely that the fuel in the left tank unported or had depleted to a level that resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.