Cessna 172 - F N8715U accident near Gainesville, Florida

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident engine examination and test run revealed no anomalies.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, about 20 minutes into the banner tow flight, he noticed that the airplane had descended about 100 ft from its established altitude. He responded by increasing engine power and enriching the mixture while observing that the oil temperature gauge was indicating "hotter than normal." The airplane continued to descend, the oil temperature continued to rise into the red arc, and the engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power. The pilot released the banner and then unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine. He then conducted a forced landing to a nearby field. The airplane impacted a parked vehicle, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Postaccident engine examinations revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures, and a test run was conducted using the fuel onboard at the time of the accident with no anomalies observed.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA14LA008 for the full record.