Cessna 172N accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, March 20, 2022
On March 20, 2022 at about 3:35 am local time, a 1979 Cessna 172N, registered N6332D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Talkeetna, Alaska (Talkeetna airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper positioning of the fuel selector during takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2022 · about 3:35 am local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Talkeetna · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N, built 1979 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6332D · registry record · serial 17272720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after takeoff when the airplane was about 150 to 200 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing in a snow covered field, during which the airplane nosed over, causing substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was in the left fuel tank position. The left fuel tank contained about 3 gallons of fuel, 1.5 gallons of which was usable. The Cessna Pilot’s Operating Handbook required the fuel selector handle to be in the “both” position for takeoffs and landings. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the engine. Given the fuel selector position, which was not consistent with takeoff procedures, and the limited fuel in the left tank, it is likely that the fuel in the left tank unported or had depleted to a level that resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power.
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
- Fuel starvation during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of procedures › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 95 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 7, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,722.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 8, 2022; 91.5 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 1,457 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PAQ Palmer AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 190, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.43 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from PATK
Weather report (METAR): PATK 191553Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW048 OVC065 M01/M06 A2943 RMK AO2 SLP971 T10111061 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 –Left side view of accident airplane at accident site.
Photo 2 – Front view of accident airplane at accident site.
Photo 3 – Right side view of accident airplane at accident site.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 20, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6332D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6332D on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,678 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,683 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 27,311 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Talkeetna Airport · nearest airport
- Warren "Bud" Woods Palmer Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,930 since 1982 · 824 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,145 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N6332D 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC22LA024.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.