Cessna 172 accident near W Bountiful, Utah, July 17, 1984
On July 17, 1984 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N4044F, was substantially damaged in an accident near W Bountiful, Utah. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1984 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- W Bountiful, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4044F · registry record · serial 36944
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS A CESSNA 172 THAT HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO A 'TEXAS TAILDRAGGER' IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN APPROVED STC. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS FOR THE PLT TO OBTAIN A BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW. HE STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO PROGRESSIVELY LOSE POWER, WITH EXCEPTION OF 2 OR 3 SHORT POWER SURGES. THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) SAID THAT HE TURNED ON THE BOOST PUMP & VARIED THE MIXTURE CONTROL WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. HE STATED THAT THE ENG NEVER COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THE CFI ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE ACFT & MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING BY MANEUVERING BETWEEN HOUSES & OBSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT STRUCK A POWER LINE, A FENCE & A DITCH. AN EXAM OF THE ENG & ACFT REVEALED NO MAJOR DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER. THE DENSITY ALT WAS ABOUT 6800 FT.
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: 1,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1984; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,075 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from SLC, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.