Cessna 172S N494SP

Summary

On 16 June 2001 at about 15:40 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N494SP was involved in an accident near Cambridge, Nebraska, 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

16 June 2001 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Cambridge, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

Cambridge Municipal Airport (CSB)

Coordinates

40.3067, -100.1619

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N494SP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Plattsmouth → Usaf Academy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI01LA173

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's high airspeed and improper emergency procedures during the emergency landing. Factors relating to this accident were the fractured engine exhaust valve push rod, the bent intake valve push rod, and oil exhaustion during cruise flight, the tailwind, and the pilot's incorrect evaluation of the wind conditions during the emergency landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that he was approximately 20 miles south of Cambridge, Nebraska, at 6,500 feet mean sea level when his engine began to run rough and the airplane began to lose altitude. The pilot said he immediately turned toward the airport and declared an emergency. The pilot said he planned to land on runway 32 because he estimated the winds were out of the southwest. As he approached the airport, the pilot realized he was high and made a right 360 degree turn to lose altitude. The pilot said he was still high after the turn and decided his best option was to land on runway 14. When he turned on final for runway 14, the pilot realized that he was on a downwind approach. He decided that he had no option but to continue. The pilot said he had great difficulty getting the plane on the runway and bounced a couple of times. The pilot said it became apparent to him that he was not going to stop on the runway. "I decided to try to divert to [a] plowed field to the left of the runway ... I used the throttle to boost the plane over a road and a fence. Once clear I chopped the power and stalled the plane into the field." After touchdown, the airplane nosed over. An examination of the airplane's engine showed the intake and exhaust valves push rod tubes pushed upward and off on the number 2 cylinder. The intake valve push rod was bent upward. The exhaust valve push rod was broken 5 inches outward from the tappet seat. An examination of the airplane's other systems revealed no anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.