Background
The owner's representative of two aircraft, a Cessna 172N (registration RA-67438) and a Cessna 182H (registration RA-67394), both stored at the Novinki airstrip, requested a private pilot holding a private pilot certificate to check the technical condition of the aircraft, test their engines, and conduct a high-speed taxi on the runway. The pilot is referred to as the PIC (pilot in command).
According to the owner's representative, the term 'high-speed taxi' is not defined in the Cessna 172 flight manual as a separate permitted operational phase with approved speed parameters. In aviation technical practice, 'high-speed taxi' refers to a non-standard ground movement mode performed at the pilot's discretion for specific tasks such as system checks, brake warm-up, or assessing aircraft behavior. It requires heightened pilot attention and readiness to immediately stop acceleration.
Activities on 13 December 2025
Around 9:00 AM on 13 December 2025, the PIC and a private individual assisting them (referred to as the passenger) arrived at Novinki Field. They towed the Cessna 182H RA-67394 into a hangar, cleaned the airframe of snow and ice, and then started and tested the engine.
At 13:38, the PIC taxied the aircraft to the fuel station to refuel. After refueling, the pilot attempted to start the engine multiple times, but the engine did not start. Subsequently, the PIC and passenger towed the Cessna 182H back into the hangar.
At 14:55, the PIC and passenger began servicing the Cessna 172N RA-67438. They cleaned snow from the aircraft.
No further details on the subsequent flight or outcome are provided in the source.
Notes
The source mentions that ice was present on the wings and tail of the Cessna 172N, but the text is incomplete regarding whether it was removed or not. The article reports only the explicit facts from the investigation source.