- Date
- July 29, 1990, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Midway, TN
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8091XCessna 172B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900729029069A
- Case key
- 8259
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Total failure of the number four exhaust valve, resulting in engine power loss and the subsequent forced landing of the airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was 20 minutes into the flight when he noted that the engine was making a binding noise and seemed to be in a slight strain. While returning to the airport, the engine began to lose power and the pilot could no longer maintain altitude. The airplane was force landed in a cornfield and was substantially damaged when it contacted a ditch and nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed that the number four cylinder exhaust valve had failed, entering the cylinder. The loose valve damaged and seized the piston, breaking the connecting rod. The valves were last replaced during a major overhaul in 1971. About 681 hours had been logged since the overhaul.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8091X
- Reported as
- Cessna 172B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17248591
- Airframe hours
- 1,834
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Carl E. Burke
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 8, 1990 · 52 hours before
- Departed
- GCY · Greeneville, TN
- Destination
- 3A2 · Tazewell, TN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 160 total · 100 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TRI, 34 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.