Cessna 172N accident near Ashland, Maine, May 12, 2001
On May 12, 2001 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N1674E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashland, Maine. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of partial engine power due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2001 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ashland, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1674E · registry record · serial 17271091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on a fire patrol flight, the pilot encountered weather and decided to return to the airport. After initiating a turn towards the airport, the engine began to run rough and lose RPM. The pilot checked all pertinent systems and pulled the carburetor heat on, which had a limited effect. While looking for a suitable place to land, the engine power dropped from 2,000 rpm to 400-800 rpm, and the pilot landed on a logging road about 45 nautical miles west of Presque Isle, Maine. Examination of the airplane revealed there were no mechanical deficiencies, and fuel drained from the wing tanks and fuel sump was absent of debris and water. Interpolation of a carburetor icing probability chart revealed that conditions for moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at glide power existed.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 518 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 414 as pilot in command; 68 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,585.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 25, 2000; 75.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAR Caribou ME at 7:13 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from PQI, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N1674E 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.