# Incident 20230526006139I: Cessna 172K, Omaha, NE, May 26, 2023

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 26, 2023, 19:36 local time
- Place: Omaha, NE
- Airport: Millard Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1960° N, 96.1123° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MILLARD (MLE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1960&lon=-96.1123&mi=10
- Aircraft: N79501, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79501) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172K (registry code 2072430, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,040 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230526006139I

## Narrative

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

ON FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 1830, A PILOT TOOK OFF FROM THE MILLARD AIRPORT (MLE) IN A CESSNA 172K. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PERFORM AN INITIAL BREAK-IN OF THE RECENTLY INSTALLED ENGINE. WHILE IN CRUIZE, APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE PILOT SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PILOT ALSO WITNESSED ELECTRICAL ARCING DROPPING DOWN FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

THE PILOT CONTACTED OMAHA APPROACH AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE PILOT ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BE DISPATCHED AS A PRECAUTION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED AT THE MILLARD AIRPORT AND THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT. UPON LANDING AND SHUTTING DOWN THE AIRCRAFT, THE SMOKE BEGAN TO DISSIPATE AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL ARCING.

THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON BOARD AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

THE MECHANICS INVOLVED WITH THE MAINTENANCE BEFORE AND AFTER THE INCIDENT ALL WORK FOR AN FBO UNDER THEIR INDIVIDUAL A&P CERTIFICATES. THERE IS ALSO A DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE ON STAFF. ALL MECHANICS ON HAND WERE BRIEFED BY THE DOM OF THE FINDINGS INVOLVED WITH THIS INCIDENT TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCE.

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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