Introduction
On September 20, 2025, about 1733 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172K, registration N78938, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Salisbury, Connecticut. The aircraft was on a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight with a flight instructor and a pilot receiving instruction aboard. Both occupants sustained minor injuries.
Flight Sequence
According to the flight instructor, after departure the airplane climbed to 7,000 feet mean sea level (msl) and had been in cruise flight for approximately 10 minutes when the engine rpm dropped about 100 rpm. The flight instructor activated the carburetor heat, but the engine rpm continued to decline to about 1,400 rpm as the airplane began to descend. The engine then began to "pulsate" between 1,400 and 2,000 rpm until the airplane reached about 3,500 feet msl, at which point the engine experienced a total loss of power.
Forced Landing
The flight instructor reported the engine issue to air traffic control as soon as he noticed the rpm irregularities. He was informed that the closest airport was 20 miles away. Observing that the airplane was flying above a racetrack, the instructor decided that would be the safest location for a forced landing. He completed the "rough running engine in flight" and "engine failure during flight" checklists, but was unable to restore engine power. The instructor subsequently conducted a forced landing to the racetrack.
Damage
During the landing, the airplane impacted a guardrail, resulting in substantial damage to the engine mounts and fuselage. The aircraft was retained for further examination.