Cessna 172P accident near Inarajan, March 26, 2014
On March 26, 2014 at about 5:43 pm local time, a 1986 Cessna 172P, registered N9551L, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Inarajan. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2014 · about 5:43 pm local time
- Place
- Inarajan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P, built 1986 · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9551L · no longer on the register · serial 17276576
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing an introductory flight lesson for a prospective student pilot and a passenger. The pilot reported that, about 20 minutes after takeoff, while in cruise flight, the engine began producing only partial power. The pilot performed troubleshooting steps, including applying carburetor heat, but the engine did not respond and subsequently lost total power. He performed a forced landing into a field of tall grass. The airplane came to rest nose down after the nose gear dug into the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The operator's mechanic reported that the airplane's fuel tank vent line was partially blocked; however, the airplane was equipped with a secondary vented fuel cap, so it is unlikely that fuel starvation occurred.
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 maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 478 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 94 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 353 as pilot in command; 40 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 19, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 1 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,766 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 2014; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 6,741 hours total
- Operator: Trend Vector Aviation Int
The flight
- Departed from: GUM Barrigada at 5:25 pm
- Destination: GUM Barrigada
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from PGUM, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N9551L 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.