Accident
On January 16, 2026, at approximately 1130 central standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, registration N79118, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Amery, Wisconsin. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 maintenance test flight.
The pilot reported that during the post-maintenance test flight, he heard and felt a loud bang, followed by violent airframe shaking and a partial loss of engine power. The airplane was circling over Amery Municipal Airport, Amery, Wisconsin, and the pilot subsequently decided to reenter the traffic pattern for runway 36. While turning onto the base leg for runway 36, total engine power was lost. Realizing the runway could not be reached, the pilot executed a forced off-field landing in a snow-covered field. During the landing rollout, the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
Maintenance and Examination
Prior to the accident flight, the airplane’s Lycoming O-320-E20 reciprocating engine had undergone a complete overhaul and was reinstalled. The mechanic reported no issues with the engine during ground testing conducted before the maintenance flight. The airplane was retained for further examination.