SALT LAKE CITY, UT, USA
N96024
Cessna 172E
During cruise flight, the engine lost all power due to a connecting rod failure and the flight instructor attempted to land the aircraft on a road. Due to a vehicle on the road, the flight instructor steered the aircraft into a field during landing roll and the aircraft struck some rocks causing damage to the main landing gear mounting structure. The reason for the connecting rod failure could not be determined due to secondary damage.
On December 16, 2000, at 1210 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172E, N96024, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on Antelope Island, in Great Salt Lake, near Salt Lake City, Utah. The certified flight instructor and passenger were not injured. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Bountiful, Utah, at 1100. According to the flight instructor, during cruise flight, the aircraft lost all engine power and the he attempted a landing on a road. Due to a vehicle on the road, the pilot said he steered the aircraft into a field, and the aircraft struck some rocks after it departed the road. The Federal Aviation administration inspector who went to the scene found a hole in the engine casing and that the main landing gear mounting structure had substantial damage. The cause for the hole in the casing was a connecting rod failure. The reason for the rod failure could not be determined due to secondary damage.
the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. A factor was a total power loss due to a connecting rod failure.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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