Cessna 172N accident near Cedar City, Utah, August 17, 2005
On August 17, 2005 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N9892J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar City, Utah (Cedar City airport). It was an instructional 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 loss of engine power for reasons undetermined. Contributing factors include the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the soft dirt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2005 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar City, Utah · Cedar City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N9892J · no longer on the register · serial 17273952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to both pilots, approximately 500 feet agl, the engine lost power and the safety pilot continued flying the airplane. The safety pilot reported that he attempted to restore power, by adjusting mixture and power but nothing worked to restore power. The airplane touched down to the west of the runway, at a 45 degree angle to the paved surface, sank in the dirt, flipped upside down, and skidded to a stop on the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged. An examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded the engine from producing power prior to the accident. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no anomalies.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 128 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 182 hours in all; 143 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,056 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2005; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDC Cedar City UT at 7:15 pm
- Destination: PVU Provo UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 2, 8,653 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 7:29 pm from CDC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9892J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.