Cessna 175 accident near Kenai, Alaska, August 21, 2001
On August 21, 2001 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N6550E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenai, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power during takeoff for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2001 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N6550E · no longer on the register · serial 56050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated commerical pilot stated that just after takeoff, about 200 feet agl, all engine power was lost, and emergency procedures did not restore engine power. The airplane subsequently collided with trees during an off-airport landing, and sustained extensive damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The airplane came to rest inverted within a stand of tall trees. The engine was torn from the fuselage during the accident sequence. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. The inspector removed the carburetor and magnetos from the accident airplane's engine for the purpose of conducting additional testing and examination. Both the carburetor assembly and the two magnetos were functionally tested, and both operated normally.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,300 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2001; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kenai AK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: SXQ Soldotna AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.60 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from PASX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.