Cessna 172E N5417T

Summary

On 16 March 1992 at about 01:30 local time, a Cessna 172E registered N5417T, operated by Skyways Flight Training, Inc., was involved in an accident near Yucapia, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 March 1992 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Yucapia, California, United States

Coordinates

34.0398, -117.0109

Aircraft

Cessna 172E

Registration

N5417T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Skyways Flight Training, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Redlands → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA143

2 people were seriously injured.

THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER MOST LIKELY RELATED TO THE POOR QUALITY OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ALL 3 OCCUPANTS OF THE AIRCRAFT ARE PILOTS AND USAF OFFICERS. THEY SAID THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THEY WERE FLYING OVER A CANYON AREA ENROUTE TO A LOCAL PRACTICE AREA. ONCE OVER THE CANYON AREA AT 4,500 FT, THE PILOTS NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BEGINNING TO RUN SLIGHTLY ROUGH WITH A PERCEPTIBLE AND STEADY DECREASE IN RPM'S. THE RPM'S EVENTUALLY DECREASED TO 1,800 AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE POWER LOSS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT AND HAD DESCENDED BELOW THE TOPS OF THE SURROUNDING RIDGES. THE PILOTS STATED THAT THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION OPEN TO THEM WAS TO CONTACT THE HILLSIDE IN A CONTROLLED MANNER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STALLED INTO THE THICK BRUSH COVERED HILLSIDE. CRASH SITE INACCESSIBILITY PRECLUDED DETERMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTINUITY OR FUEL SUPPLY QUALITY. THE CARBURETOR, GASCOLATOR AND IGNITION LEADS WERE DESTROYED IN THE CRASH. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED HEAVY SOOTING OF THE #1 TOP SPARK PLUG AND MODERATE EROSION AND GAS BLOW-BY OF THE PISTONS. COMPRESSION TESTS DURING THE LAST 100 HOUR INSPECTION SHOWED 3 CYLINDERS BELOW 60 PSI. THE LAST MAJOR OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINE WAS 25 YEARS AND 2,221 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS A MAJOR OVERHAUL EVERY 2,000 HOURS OR FIVE YEARS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.