Accident Summary
On July 6, 2022, at approximately 1845 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172B, registration N7609X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Silver Springs, Nevada. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor suffered a minor injury, while the pilot receiving instruction was uninjured.
Flight Details
The flight instructor reported that after completing a preflight inspection, the airplane departed Silver Springs Airport (SPZ) with a planned destination of Fallon Municipal Airport (FLX) in Fallon, Nevada. During an instrument approach at FLX, a power reduction caused the engine to backfire slightly. On the return flight to SPZ, engine rpm began to fluctuate, followed by additional backfiring. The engine continued to produce partial power, and the pilot completed the emergency loss of engine power checklist.
Emergency Landing
Unable to maintain altitude, the flight instructor chose to land on open desert terrain near a highway. During the landing roll, the nosewheel collapsed and the propeller struck the ground. The airplane came to rest with substantial damage to the fuselage undercarriage.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage undercarriage was substantially damaged. Prior to the aircraft's recovery, unknown persons without authorization removed the engine and various instruments and components, which precluded further examination.