Cessna 172 Emergency Checklist
IMPORTANT NOTE: Maneuvering
speed varies with gross weight.
Gross Weight Man. Speed (VA )
2300 lbs....................... 97 KIAS
1950 lbs....................... 89 KIAS
1600 lbs....................... 81 KIAS
Engine Power Loss — Takeoff
Sufficient Runway Ahead:
Throttle...................................... Idle
Brakes..................................... Apply
Flaps.....................................Retract
Mixture...........................Idle Cut-Off
Ignition.......................................OFF
Master Switch............................OFF
Insufficient Runway Ahead:
Airspeed.............................. 60 KIAS
Mixture...........................Idle Cut-Off
Fuel Selector (if fitted)................OFF
Ignition.......................................OFF
Flaps............................... As Needed
Landing.....................Straight Ahead
Engine Power Loss — In Flight
Airspeed................................. 60 KIAS
Carb Heat....................................... ON
Primer........................ IN and LOCKED
Fuel Selector (if fitted).................... ON
Mixture........................................RICH
Ignition.................. BOTH (or START if
.......................... propeller is stopped)
Emergency Forced Landings
Without Engine Power:
Airspeed............. 65 KIAS(flaps UP)
................. 60 KIAS (flaps DOWN)
Mixture...........................Idle Cut-Off
Fuel Selector (if fitted)................OFF
Ignition Switch...........................OFF
Flaps..................... Recommend 30°
Master Switch............................OFF
Doors (Prior to TD)......UNLATCHED
Touchdown......... Slightly TAIL LOW
Brakes............................. As Needed
Precautionary Landing W/ Power:
Airspeed............................. 60 KIAS
Flaps.......................................... 20°
Landing Site...... Locate within range
Radios/Electirical Switches........OFF
Flaps...........................30° (on final)
Airspeed............................. 55 KIAS
Master Switch............................OFF
Door (Discretion)....... Blocked Open
Touchdown......... Slightly TAIL LOW
Ignition.......................................OFF
Brakes............................. As Needed
Ditching:
Radio.............. Set 121.5, “Mayday”
.................................with location
Transponder................Set to “7700”
Baggage.............. Secure or Jettison
Approach.....High Wind—Into Wind
...... Low Wind—Parallel to Swells
Flaps.......................................... 30°
© 2008 Don Thompson
Cessna 172 Emerg. Checklist
Ditching (cont.):
Descent.............300 fpm @ 55 KIAS
Doors (Prior to TD)......UNLATCHED
Touchdown.......Level Flight Attitude
Face........... Cushion Against Impact
Airplane..............................Evacuate
Life Vests/Raft....................... Deploy
Fire During Engine Start
Starter........ Continue Cranking Engine
If Engine Starts:
Throttle...... 1700 RPM momentarily
Engine.......SHUTDOWN and Inspect
If Engine Fails to Start:
Throttle..........................FULL OPEN
Mixture......................IDLE CUT-OFF
Starter..... Continue Cranking Engine
Master Switch............................OFF
Ignition Switch...........................OFF
Fuel Selector (if fitted)................OFF
Fire Extinguisher................... Deploy
..... if available. Otherwise, blanket
........... with available cover or dirt Landing.............. As Soon As Possible
Fire Damage............................ Inspect
Engine Fire In Flight
Mixture......................IDLE CUT-OFF
Fuel Selector (if fitted)................OFF
Master Switch............................OFF
Cabin Heat and Air.....................OFF
Airspeed............................. 85 KIAS
Forced Landing....................Execute
© 2008 Don Thompson
(cont.
Electrical Fire In Flight
Master Switch...............................OFF
All Other Switches (exc. ign.)........OFF
Vents/Cabin Air/Heat..............CLOSED
Fire Extinguisher...................... Deploy
...... if available. WARNING: After
............. deploying, ventilate cabin
After fire is out:
Master Switch................................ ON
Circuit Breakers.......... Check for faulty
.. circuit. WARNING: DO NOT RESET
Radio Switches........ON one at a time,
......... with delay after each until short
.................................... circuit if found
Vents/Cabin Air/Heat..................OPEN
Cabin Fire
Master Switch...............................OFF
Vents/Cabin Air/Heat..............CLOSED
Fire Extinguisher...................... Deploy
...... if available. WARNING: After
............. deploying, ventilate cabin
Wing Fire
Nav Light Switch...........................OFF
Strobe Switch (if installed)............OFF
Pitot Switch (if installed)...............OFF
Attitude......... Side Slip to keep flames
............................away from fuel tank
Flaps........................................Retract
Landing.............. As Soon As Possible
 Cessna 172 Emerg. Checklist
Spin Recovery
Throttle......................................... Idle
Ailerons....................................Neutral
Rudder.......Full Opposite Dir. Rotation
Control Wheel................. Full Forward
Rudder...................... Neutralize When
Rotation Stops
Control Wheel.............. Back Pressure
to Recover from Dive
(cont.)
Emergency Descent
Descent Procedure:
Belts/Harnesses.................... Secure
Throttle................................. Retard
Airspeed.............. Maintain ≤100 Kts
CAUTION: Rolling into a 40 to 45°
turn in a spiraling descent destroys
lift, increasing the rate of descent.
Recovery (≥ 2,000’ AGL):
Mixture...................................Enrich
Throttle................... Advance Slowly
© 2008 Don Thompson © 2008 Don Thompson