# Accident 20240429004359A: Cessna 172P, Palatka, FL, April 29, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 29, 2024, 12:45 local time
- Place: Palatka, FL
- Airport: Palatka Municipal - Lt Kay Larkin F
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6578° N, 81.7297° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6578&lon=-81.7297&mi=10
- Aircraft: N99442, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99442) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A4A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 249 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA198) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240429004359A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 29,2024,  THE PILOT DEPARTED KSGJ TOWARDS 28J WITH THE INTENTION OF CONDUCTING A PRACTICE APPROACH AT 28J. WHILE IN CRUISE AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 FT, THE PILOT BEGAN TO CLIMB TO 3,000' FOR AN RNAV9 PRACTICE APPROACH AT 28J. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS SOON AS HE ATTEMPTED THE CLIMB, HE NOTICED SIGNIFICANT ENGINE ROUGHNESS WITH THE LACK OF ANY CLIMB PERFORMANCE. HE STATED HE IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE ENGINE GAUGES AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS AT THE LEFT RED TICK MARK ON THE DIAL, INDICATING LOW OIL PRESSURE. THE APPROACH WAS TERMINATED AND A CALL ON THE 28J CTAF FREQUENCY INDICATING INTENTIONS- APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AWAY AND INTENDING TO LAND STRAIGHT-IN ON RUNWAY 09 TO A FULL STOP. WITH THROTTLE FULL, THERE WAS PROGRESSIVELY WEAKER PERFORMANCE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP IN A NOSE DOWN AND A SLIGHT LEFT BANK. THE NOSE WHEEL WAS SHEERED OFF. OIL WAS VISIBLE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE COWLING AND TRAILING DOWN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE AND BOTTOM OF THE EMPENNAGE. IT WAS REPORTED THE OIL WAS 6-8 QUARTS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FOR THIS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR FLIGHT (TO THIS POINT).

THIS IS A PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION. AT THIS TIME THE TECHNICAL FACTOR(S) ARE BASED ON WHAT IS KNOWN HOWEVER ALL INFORMATION HAS YET TO BE GATHERED. THE REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AS NECESSARY.

## 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 ERA24LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA198), Apr 29, 2024: Cessna 172 (N99442), Palatka, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the nose oil seal to remain secure in the engine crankcase, which resulted in a loss of engine oil and partial 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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