Cessna 172H accident near Wikieup, Arizona, February 15, 2011
On February 15, 2011 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N2561L, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Wikieup, Arizona. 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
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight resulting from the failure of a fuel line. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance inspections that failed to detect the deteriorating fuel line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 2011 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wikieup, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2561L · no longer on the register · serial 17255761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine power became intermittent, followed by a total loss of engine power. The CFI established best-glide airspeed for the forced landing. During the landing roll on rough terrain, the airplane contacted a rut, which sheared off the nose landing gear. A postaccident engine run revealed that the engine would operate at idle power briefly but would not accelerate as the throttle was moved forward. While the engine was running, fuel was dripping from the main fuel supply line from the fuel strainer to the carburetor inlet. Examination of the fuel line revealed that approximately 6 inches of the 18-inch hose assembly was visibly deteriorated and cracked, resulting in the leak. A replacement hose assembly was installed, and the engine ran normally under all parameters. The data tag on the deteriorated hose assembly indicated that it had been in service for more than 20 years. No maintenance record documentation was found indicating that any hose assemblies had been replaced or repaired.
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 (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Hoses and tubes › Related maintenance info
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Effect on equipment
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Inadequate inspection
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,010 hours in all; 530 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,757 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 21, 2010; 52 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sheble Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: AZ06 Bullhead City AZ
- Destination: PRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 pm from KIGM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.