Incident Overview
On September 13, 2025, at approximately 0733 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G (registration N345QA) sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Williston, Florida. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight History
The airplane departed Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) in Orlando, Florida, around 0600 with 17 gallons of fuel onboard. The pilot reported overflying Cross City Airport (CTY) before proceeding to the intended destination, Williston Regional Airport (X60) in Williston, Florida.
Loss of Power
About 1.5 hours after departure, while transitioning from base leg to final leg of the traffic pattern for runway 05 at X60, the engine experienced a momentary loss of power. Shortly thereafter, a total loss of power occurred. The pilot was unable to restore engine power.
Forced Landing and Damage
The pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed, causing the airplane to nose over. The aircraft came to rest in a grass field approximately 0.25 mile from the approach end of runway 05. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing strut.
Examination
The airplane was retained for further examination.