- Date
- September 29, 1990, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place
- Stokesdale, NC
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1904VCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 14, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900929045809A
- Case key
- 8286
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 failure of the engine driven oil pump which resulted in oil starvation to the engine. Factors were: the faa's failure to provide sufficient standards for airworthiness directive compliance, and the rough terrain.
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
While cruising at 3500 feet, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power. Attempts to restore full power failed. He radioed approach control and advised the controller of his problem. He also requested radar vectors to the nearest airport for an emergency landing. Moments later the engine quit. The pilot selected an emergency landing area and established an approach to a large pasture. The right main landing gear broke off at touchdown in the rough/uneven pasture. Examination of the engine revealed a failed engine driven oil pump. The pump had a total of 3620 hours and 1682 hours since last overhauled. Lycoming issued a service bulletin which instructed owners to replace the sintered-iron impellers at 2000 hours of engine service. An FAA AD was also issued which allowed an owner to operate up to 4000 hours before replacing the impellers. The propulsion branch stated that a revised AD would be issued to correct the loopholes which caused this accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1904V
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- Unknown
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Martely, James
- Departed
- IKB · Wilkesboro, NC
- Destination
- TDF · Roxboro, NC
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
- 47
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Flight hours
- 1,599 total · 1,355 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GSO
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.