What happened
On September 20, 2025, at approximately 17:33 EDT, a Cessna 172K, registration N78938, was involved in an accident near Salisbury, Connecticut. The aircraft was operating as a Part 91 instructional flight.
After departing, the flight instructor climbed to 7,000 feet MSL. After roughly 10 minutes of cruise flight, the engine RPM decreased by approximately 100 RPM. The instructor applied carburetor heat, but the engine RPM continued to decline to 1,400 RPM as the aircraft began to descend. The engine then began pulsating between 1,400 and 2,000 RPM. Upon reaching approximately 3,500 feet MSL, the aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power.
The instructor notified air traffic control and learned the nearest airport was 20 miles away. Due to the aircraft being positioned over a racetrack, the instructor chose that location for a forced landing. Despite completing the checklists for a rough-running engine and engine failure in flight, the instructor could not restore power. During the forced landing, the aircraft struck a guardrail, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mounts. The flight instructor and the student pilot sustained 2 minor injuries, and there were 0 fatalities.