# NTSB ATL82DA181: Cessna 172, N61791, Martinsburg, WV, June 30, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: June 29, 1982, 22:30 local (Jun 30, 1982, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Martinsburg, WV
- Coordinates: 39.4594, -77.969024 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4594&lon=-77.9690&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 29, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 81-18-04 R2](https://openairdocs.org/ad/81-18-04-R2) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71601
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71601/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA181

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - lubricating system,oil pressure pump - failure,total (cause)
  - fluid,oil - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER LEVEL-OFF TO CRUISE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE THE POWER, BUT THE ENGINE RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE. A TURN WAS MADE BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT. WHILE SCANNING THE INSTRUMENTS, ZERO OIL PRESSURE AND A HIGH OIL TEMPERATURE WERE NOTED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE QUIT OPERATING AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED. HE LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD, AND DURING THE ROLL-OUT, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OIL PUMP (LW-12897) HAD FAILED. A TEARDOWN OF THE PUMP REVEALED THAT A TOOTH HAD FAILED AND HAD BECOME WEDGED IN THE GEAR HOUSING. ALSO, THE INNER WALLS OF THE GEAR HOUSING WERE SCORED. AD 81-18-04 APPLIED TO THIS ENGINE AND PUMP, BUT WOULD NOT HAVE BECOME APPLICABLE UNTIL 2000 HOURS AFTER OVERHAUL OR UNTIL THE ACCESSORY SECTION WAS REMOVED. WHEN APPLICABLE, IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IRON SINTERED IMPELLER WITH A HARDENED STEEL IMPELLER. THE ENGINE HAD 1410 HRS, SINCE OVERHAUL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61791](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61791-1984-07-10), registration cancelled 1984-07-10, S/N 17264804 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17264804
- Airframe hours: 3548
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marvi E. Clarke, Jr.
- Registered owner: Valley Aero Inc.
- Departed: MARTINSBURG, WV
- Destination: MARTINSBURG, WV
- Airport: Eastern West Virginia Re., runway 35, 5,000 × 0 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,118 total, 179 in this make and model, 988 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 176 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRB, 4 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19820629027479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820629027479A), Jun 29, 1982: Cessna 172, Martinsburg, WV, Substantial damage. Engine lost power. Aircraft flipped over on emergency landing in a field. Oil pump failure caused oil starvation.

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.

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