Cessna 172 accident near Eagle River, Alaska, August 1, 2001
On August 1, 2001 at about 2:35 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5312T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eagle River, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fatigue induced fracture of a connecting rod wrist pin, resulting in a complete loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2001 · about 2:35 am local time
- Place
- Eagle River, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5312T · no longer on the register · serial 17251212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial sight-seeing flight was flying over a river valley when the engine began to run rough and then lost all power. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing on a river slough with the float-equipped airplane, but was unable to glide far enough. He made a forced landing in brush and on a sand bar, coming to rest inverted near the edge of the river. Postaccident investigation disclosed the engine lost power due to a fatigue-induced fracture of the number five cylinder connecting rod wrist pin. The engine had been overhauled approximately two months and 180 service hours prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,775 hours in all; 1,436 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 2,775 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 30, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,783 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 2001; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,499 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-C2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 9:15 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.