Cessna 172P N9551L accident near Inarajan

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was performing an introductory flight lesson for a prospective student pilot and a passenger. The pilot reported that, about 20 minutes after takeoff, while in cruise flight, the engine began producing only partial power. The pilot performed troubleshooting steps, including applying carburetor heat, but the engine did not respond and subsequently lost total power. He performed a forced landing into a field of tall grass. The airplane came to rest nose down after the nose gear dug into the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The operator's mechanic reported that the airplane's fuel tank vent line was partially blocked; however, the airplane was equipped with a secondary vented fuel cap, so it is unlikely that fuel starvation occurred.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR14LA147 for the full record.