Cessna 175 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, June 29, 2013
On June 29, 2013 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N7698M, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Skwentna, Alaska (Yentna River Lodge Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. .
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2013 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · Yentna River Lodge Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7698M · no longer on the register · serial 55998
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing from a grass-covered runway, and about 100 feet above the ground, the airplane's engine began to lose power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot landed the airplane in a swamp; during the landing the airplane nosed over, substantially damaging the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated that the engine had just been returned to service after a major overhaul, and that it had operated about 3 hours since being returned to service. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 6 top spark plug ignition wire was inoperative; however, it could not be determined if the damage to the wire was present before the accident. A significant amount of water was found in the gascolator bowl, but due to the position of the airplane in the swamp after the accident, it could not be determined whether or not the water was present at the time of the accident. No other preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 153 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 25, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,316 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2013; 3 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor GO-300 SERIES (piston); 2,316 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Skwentna AK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: PAMR Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from PASW, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.