Cessna 172M accident near Bridgewater, Connecticut, June 28, 1995
On June 28, 1995 at about 7:51 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N9176H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgewater, Connecticut (Danbury Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing, and a subsequent collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1995 · about 7:51 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgewater, Connecticut · Danbury Municipal
- 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
- N9176H · registry record · serial 17265993
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS CONDUCTING A FLIGHT REVIEW FOR A COMMERCIAL PILOT. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR SIMULATED AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT PERFORMED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. DURING THE RECOVERY, WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS APPLIED, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE INSTRUCTOR'S ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND HE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION BY THE FAA REVEALED NO ANOMALIES. ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE ENGINE TEST RUN, THE ENGINE RAN AT FULL POWER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 314 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 269 as pilot in command; 30 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,968 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: North American Aviation INC.,
The flight
- Departed from: DXR Danbury CT at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:57 pm from DXR, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.