20070523016289A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172E · Leesburg, VA · May 23, 2007

Date: May 23, 2007 · 18:00 local
Place: Leesburg, VA
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3982S
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC07LA125
Reported as: Cessna 172E
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 230 total230 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N3982SRegistration cancelled Jun 24, 2025 · Cessna 172ES/N 17251182 · Built 1964 Airframe modelCessna 172E Engine modelContinental 0-300 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Approximately five minutes into flight engine started sputtering and quit. Pilot just fueled at Leesburg on his way to winchester for an annual inspection. The weather was clear. Upon investigation the NTSB found a bad intake valve.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES INTO FLIGHT ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND QUIT. PILOT JUST FUELED AT LEESBURG ON HIS WAY TO WINCHESTER FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. UPON INVESTIGATION THE NTSB FOUND A BAD INTAKE VALVE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC07LA125Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLeesburg, VAThe loss of engine power that resulted from the failure of an exhaust valve rocker arm during cruise.May 23, 2007 · Substantial damage