- Date
- August 24, 1990, 18:42 local (22:42 UTC)
- Place
- Palmetto, GA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N6173ECessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 14, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900824036179A
- Case key
- 8265
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
The pilot's operation of the airplane with known mechanical deficiencies. A factor in the accident was the improperly maintained condition of the magnetos.
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
Shortly after takeoff and while established on downwind, the pilot reported that his engine began to run roughly. Unable to maintain altitude, he landed the airplane on the airport property. An inspection of the engine after the accident revealed that the left magneto was incorrectly timed. Also, both magnetos were observed breaking down during the test run. The pilot (also the mechanic of this airplane) reported that the mag drop on the left magneto was 500 RPM prior to takeoff. He elected to fly the airplane as a 'test hop' to troubleshoot the problem. When a witness secured the airplane following the accident, he noted that the magneto switch was loose and fell out of the instrument panel when he tried to turn the key. The pilot had not accomplished a biennial flight review in over five years.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6173E
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46273
- Airframe hours
- 4,130
- Engine
- Continental O-300A, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Barnes, Daniel M.
- Registered owner
- Barnes, Daniel M
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 7, 1990 · 1 hours before
- Destination
- 8A9
- Airport
- 8A9 · South Fulton, runway 27, 2,690 × 40 ft, asphalt
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
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 314 total · 120 in this make and model · 270 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ATL, 11 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.