Cessna 172M accident near Canadensis, Pennsylvania, August 31, 2012
On August 31, 2012 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N391R, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Canadensis, Pennsylvania (Flying Dollar 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 pilot’s failure to attain a proper glidepath.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2012 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Canadensis, Pennsylvania · Flying Dollar Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N391R · no longer on the register · serial 17265251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and an engine run-up with no discrepancies reported before departing. He departed with an adequate supply of fuel and proceeded toward his destination airport. During cruise flight, with the fuel-to-air ratio leaned, the pilot heard an engine sound that he said was similar to a cylinder not firing; the engine then experienced significant vibration and a partial loss of power. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The flight was vectored by an air traffic controller to the Cherry Ridge Airport (N30), and on the first approach to the 2,405-foot-long grass downsloping runway designated 20, the flight was high and fast resulting in a bounced landing necessitating a go-around. He executed a 180 degree turn to land on runway 2, and while on final approach, the airplane was allowed to descend below the elevation of the runway resulting in undershoot followed by a nose-over. While the postaccident inspection of the engine revealed a discrepancy with one magneto and very low compression from the No. 4 cylinder, the pilot stated that his in-flight check of each magneto revealed satisfactory results.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR go-around)
- Landing area undershoot during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Malfunction
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › (general) › (general) › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 297 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 21, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,764 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 2012; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 39N Princeton PA at 3:10 pm
- Destination: N30 Honesdale PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,405 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from AVP, 23 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.