Accident Summary
On September 22, 2025, about 1157 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, registration N6831A, was substantially damaged when it experienced a loss of engine power and ditched in water near Anacortes, Washington. The airplane was operating as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that he intended to fly from Anacortes Airport (74S) to Friday Harbor Airport (FHR). After a normal engine run-up, he departed runway 36. As the airplane climbed to about 400 feet mean sea level and crossed the shoreline, the engine began to sputter and then lost all power. The pilot lowered the nose to maintain best glide airspeed. Noticing a parking lot west of his position was full of vehicles, he began a right turn. Unable to complete a 180-degree turn back to the airport, he flew over the water while attempting to restart the engine. He checked that the fuel selector was on both, the mixture was rich, cycled the throttle and carburetor heat controls, and tried both left and right magnetos, all with no engine response. Subsequently, he performed a water ditching near the mouth of the Guemes Channel, about 1.5 miles northeast of 74S.
Postaccident Examination
Examination after the accident revealed substantial damage to both wings. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.