Accident Details
On May 22, 2022, at approximately 0913 mountain standard time, a Cessna P172D airplane, registration N8540X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight and Forced Landing
The pilot reported that shortly after departing from Prescott Regional Airport – Ernest A Love Field (PRC), the engine suddenly lost power. He immediately recycled the magnetos, moved the mixture control to full rich, and lowered the nose. Despite these efforts, the engine did not restart. The pilot intended to land on a road but was deterred by vehicle traffic. He then performed a forced landing to a field approximately one mile beyond the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a tree stump, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.
Postaccident Examination
Following the accident, an examination of the engine was conducted. Manual rotation of the crankshaft was possible, and all cylinders exhibited compression and proper valve movement. The engine was run at various power settings without any anomalies detected. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures was found during the inspection of the recovered airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather and Carburetor Icing Assessment
A review of the icing probability chart from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 indicated that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to carburetor icing at cruise power.