# Accident 20110401005959A: Cessna 172P, Vega Baja, PR, April 1, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 1, 2011, 17:00 local time
- Place: Vega Baja, PR
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 18.4683° N, 66.4353° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.4683&lon=-66.4353&mi=10
- Aircraft: N98FR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98FR-2011-06-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 226 total, 12 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA230) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110401005959A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 1, 2011, A CESSNA MODEL 172P, S/N 17274195, REGISTRATION N98FR, OWNED BY ISLA GRANDE FLYING SCHOOL WAS RENTED BY MR. JOAO SHAMIL FERNANDEZ, HOLDER OF A SINGLE ENGINE PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE , WITH INSTRUMENT RATINGS. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO ACCUMULATE THE NECESSARY FLIGHT HOURS REQUIRED FOR THE COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE RATING. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM ISLA GRANDE AIRPORT (SIG) TO BORINQUEN AIRPORT (BQN) APPROXIMATELY AT 15:35 (LOCAL TIME) PILOTED AS A PART 91 FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER VFR RULES. ON THE RETURN FLIGHT FROM BQN BACK TO SIG AT LEVEL FLIGHT 1,000 FT. THE PILOT FELT A HEAVY ENGINE VIBRATION AND LOST OF ALTITUDE. THE PIC MAINTAINED APPROXIMATELY 250 FT WHEN SPOTTED AN EX-MILITARY AND CLOSED AIR-FIELD (TORTUGUERO) AND INITIATED  AN EMERGENCY LANDING. 2 SOB NO INJURIES REPORTED.

## 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 ERA11LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA230), Apr 1, 2011: Cessna 172P (N98FR), Vega Baja, PR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve resulting in a loss of engine power.

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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