Cessna 175 accident near Wetumpka, Alabama, August 11, 2023
On August 11, 2023, a 1958 Cessna 175, registered N7117M, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Wetumpka, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to the separation of the No. 3 connecting rod from the crankshaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2023
- Place
- Wetumpka, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175, built 1958 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7117M · registry record · serial 55417
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While enroute to the destination airport the pilot described that the engine “shuddered” before smoke began emanating from the engine area and entered the cockpit. The pilot then attempted to land at a diversionary airport and during the diversion described that the engine intermittently lost power and he observed sparks and flames emanating from it. Upon reaching the midpoint of the diversionary runway, the airplane was flying at too fast of an airspeed to land, so the pilot performed a go-around, during which the engine lost power and the propeller stopped rotating completely. The airplane subsequently struck trees and was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine’s crankcase was breached in the vicinity of the No. 3 cylinder. A deformed connecting rod was recovered, but the connecting rod's end cap was not. The crankshaft journal exhibited heavy mechanical damage. An unquantified amount of oil residue was found in the engine cowling and on the airframe. The wreckage was subsequently sold for salvage and a further detailed examination of the engine could not be completed. Based on this information, the loss of engine power was likely the result of the separation of the No. 3 connecting rod from the crankshaft.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 175 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 101 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 15, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2022; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300 (piston); 1,287 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHEG Jacksonville FL at 9:20 pm
- Destination: KEET Calera AL
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MGM, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMGM 102253Z 25005KT 10SM CLR 33/23 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP112 T03330233=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA23LA331.