Cessna 172B accident near Phillips, Maine, October 4, 2001
On October 4, 2001 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172B, registered N7591X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phillips, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to a blockage of the left fuel tank vent line with mud, and the subsequent inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2001 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Phillips, Maine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B · all 172Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7591X · no longer on the register · serial 17248091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 30 minutes after departure, the airplane's engine lost total power. The pilot prepared for a forced landing to a field, and while on final approach, the engine regained full power. The pilot initiated a go-around and the engine lost power a second time. The airplane then entered a "low altitude power off stall" and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed the left fuel vent line was contaminated with mud. Additionally, examination of the fuel drained from the airplane revealed a mixture of auto gas, 100LL aviation fuel, and a fuel additive.
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: 320 hours in all; 306 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 207 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 26, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,347 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 2001; 3,300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2B7 Pittsfield ME at 1:45 pm
- Destination: MVL Morrisville VT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from WVL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.