Accident Overview
On October 7, 2025, at 1456 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, registration N80628, was substantially damaged in an accident near Petersburg, Alaska. The student pilot and flight instructor aboard were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Details
The student pilot had purchased the airplane two weeks prior to the accident. The training flight involved steep turns, turns around a point, and emergency procedures. According to the flight instructor, some mist was present in the area during the flight, prompting the application of carburetor heat, which remained on.
Engine Power Loss and Forced Landing
After rolling out of a left turn and while in straight and level flight, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. Power was briefly restored but then ceased entirely. In an attempt to regain engine power, the flight instructor and student pilot cycled the magnetos, turned on the electric fuel pump, confirmed the fuel selector was in the BOTH position, and set the mixture to full RICH. Despite these efforts, the engine could not be restarted. The flight instructor then executed a forced landing onto a road.
During the landing roll, the airplane struck a large rock, which partially separated the right main landing gear. The aircraft pivoted into a ditch and came to rest inverted. The right wing sustained substantial damage.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, weather reported at Petersburg Airport (PAPG), about 14 miles southeast of the accident site, included a temperature of 9°C and a dew point of 7°C. The calculated relative humidity was 87%. Review of the icing probability chart from Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 indicated that the atmospheric conditions were conducive to "serious icing at cruise power settings" and also fell within the range for icing in pressure-type carburetors.
Investigation
A detailed examination of the airplane is pending recovery.