Cessna R172K accident near Rexburg, Idaho, October 31, 2021
On October 31, 2021 at about 5:50 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna R172K, registered N1082V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Rexburg, Idaho (Rexburg-Madison County airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane with a known mechanical issue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2021 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Rexburg, Idaho · Rexburg-Madison County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K, built 1976 · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N1082V · no longer on the register · serial R1722110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that, during final approach to land on a solo flight, the engine lost total power while the airplane was about 400 ft above ground level. The student pilot elected to conduct an off-airport landing on a street. During the landing roll, the right wing struck a street light pole, and the nose landing gear struck the street curb, resulting in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage undercarriage. The student pilot reported that, before the accident, the airplane had lost power on multiple occasions after the engine was warmed up and at idle. Maintenance had been performed to correct the issue and the airplane was signed off as airworthy with respect to the work performed and was approved to return to service; however, the power loss occurred at least once after the maintenance but before the accident. No maintenance entries were identified in the logbook to indicate that further maintenance was accomplished. The student pilot elected to operate the airplane on the day of the accident, even though the engine issue was not fully resolved. After the airplane was recovered, a mechanic ran the engine and reported that it ran smoothly for about 2 minutes. The mechanic also stated that magneto and mixture checks were “normal.” The mechanic performed the engine run and the magneto and mixture checks without government oversight. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector switch was jammed between the “both” and right tank positions likely due to the damage to the floor, which was deformed upward, during the accident sequence. The cause of the total loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation.
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 landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not specified
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,547 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HRF Hamilton MT at 3:45 pm
- Destination: RXE Rexburg ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,206 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KRXE
Weather report (METAR): KRXE 311753Z AUTO 05010KT 10SM BKN120 10/00 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP168 T01000000 10100 20011 58004
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR22LA025.