Cessna 172N N738BB

Summary

On 17 September 1989 at about 00:55 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N738BB was involved in an accident near Waxahachie, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 1989 at 00:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Waxahachie, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

O'brien Airpark (T25)

Coordinates

32.3998, -96.8498

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N738BB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Leonard → Kerrville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

FTW89LA165

Nobody was injured.

FAILURE OF THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO EXPOSURE TO OVERTEMPERATURE OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2,500 MSL OVER AN AIRPARK. AFTER REDUCING POWER AND APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A FORCE LANDING TO THE AIRPARK. HOWEVER, SHE OVERSHOT AND LANDED IN A WET PLOWED FIELD BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. DURING ROLL OUT, THE GEAR DUG INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A PIECE OF THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE HAD SEPARATED AND HAD BEEN INGESTED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED VALVE INDICATED THAT IT HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO HIGH TEMPERATURE OPERATION. HOWEVER, THE EXACT ORIGIN OF THE SEPARATION WAS NOT DETERMINED DUE TO MASKING OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES, ACCUMULATION OF EXHAUST DEPOSITS AND POST-SEPARATION MECHANICAL DAMAGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.