Cessna 172G N4696L
17 March 1990 · Rio Hondo, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 17 March 1990 at about 21:11 local time, a Cessna 172G registered N4696L was involved in an accident near Rio Hondo, Texas, United States. 3 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.
The record
- Date
- at 21:11
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Rio Hondo, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 26.2290, -97.5799
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G
- Registration
- N4696L
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Harlingen → Harlingen
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW90LA084
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
OIL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND THE SOFT TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2,500 FEET, HE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM AND DETECTED SMOKE IN THE CABIN. AFTER REDUCING THROTTLE TO A CONTROLLABLE RPM, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WAS ZERO. HE SUBSEQUENTLY EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN BRUSHY AREA THAT WAS THE BEST AVAILABLE. DURING ROLL OUT THE NOSE GEAR DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR OIL LINE FITTING HAD SEPARATED DUE TO STRIPPING OF THE THREADS OUT OF THE GOVERNOR HOUSING AND THAT THE FITTING WAS INCORRECT FOR THE APPLICATION. THE AIRPLANE HAD EXPERIENCED A FORCED LANDING 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT DUE TO AN OIL LEAK AND LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE DUE TO THE JAM NUT ON THE FAILED FITTING HAVING BACKED OFF. ON THAT OCCASION, A MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE LINE AND THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED FOR FLIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 172 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Dec 1990 | Cessna 172G | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Weeks, Milton D. | Serious injuries | - |
| 11 Mar 1990 | Cessna 172I | Isabel, South Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 May 1990 | Cessna 172N | New Richmond, Wisconsin, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 21 Mar 1990 | Cessna 172M | Three Forks, Montana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 1990 | Cessna 172N | Stokesdale, North Carolina, United States | Martely, James | No injuries | - |
| 16 Oct 1990 | Cessna 172 | San Carlos, California, United States | United Co-Op Flying Club Inc. | No injuries | - |
All 12,209 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Mar 1990 | Bell 206B | Pearland, Texas, United States | Houston Helicopter, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1990 | Beechcraft 100 | Uvalde, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Apr 1990 | Hughes H500C | Houston, Texas, United States | Mark R. Lancaster | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 1990 | Hughes 369HS | Junction, Texas, United States | Neveri, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 1990 | Cessna 152 | Albany, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Apr 1990 | Enstrom F-28A | Danbury, Texas, United States | Salaika, TIM | Minor injuries | - |