# Accident 19890617015959A: Cessna 172F, Vernon, AL, June 17, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 1989, 17:30 local time
- Place: Vernon, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7588° N, 88.1143° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vernon, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7588&lon=-88.1143&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7939U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7939U-2014-11-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172F (registry code 2072414, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- Reported engine: CONT O300D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL89FA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890617015959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENGINE LOST POWER,STRUCK TREE TIPS EDGE OF OPEN FIELD. CRASHED INVERTED. SPARK PLUG CORE BROKEN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL89FA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA163), Jun 17, 1989: Cessna 172F (N7939U), Vernon, AL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BY THE PILOT/MECHANIC WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CLEAR TREES DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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