Cessna 172L accident near Millinocket, Maine, June 16, 1999
On June 16, 1999 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7897G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millinocket, Maine (Millinocket Municipal Apt airport). It was an aerial observation 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1999 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Millinocket, Maine · Millinocket Municipal Apt
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7897G · no longer on the register · serial 17259597
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff, the airplane climbed to 400 feet above the ground, when the engine quit. The pilot performed a forced landing to a grass field located off the departure end of a perpendicular runway, and the airplane came to rest in a wooded area. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. An undetermined amount of fuel was observed in both wing tanks. All fuel and oil filters were intact and no contaminants were observed. The spark plugs were removed, and their electrodes were intact and light gray in color. The left and right magnetos were tested, by rotating the engine, and produced spark on all leads. The airplane's engine was then prepared for a test run, and started. The engine ran for about 7 minutes, then was shut down.
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: 21,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,818 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 22, 1999; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLT at 7:13 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,713 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from MLT
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.
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.