- Date
- April 6, 1991, 20:00 local (Apr 7, 1991, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Mocksville, NC
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2936UCessna 172D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report March 24, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910406009119A
- Case key
- 8319
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 loss of engine power due to open circuits in the ignition wiring harness, and the pilot's failure to maintain flying airspeed during the forced landing attempt. Factors in this accident were the dark night lighting conditions at the time of the accident.
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
During cruise flight in night, VFR conditions, the engine reportedly quit. During the forced landing attempt, the airplane stalled, then collided with the terrain in a steep, nose-down attitude. Post-crash investigation and engine run revealed that 6 of the 12 ignition harness wire circuits were open from the magnetos to the spark plugs. The engine would run on a test stand, however three cylinders were cold to the touch after the run. Engine continuity was established, and the magnetos tested satisfactorily on a test bench. The ignition harness appeared old and worn, and the airplane had been flown only 41 hours in the previous 4 years.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2936U
- Reported as
- Cessna 172D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17250536
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robbins, James L.
- Registered owner
- Robbins, James L.
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 13, 1990 · 21 hours before
- Departed
- MWK · Mt. Airy, NC
- Destination
- EXX · Lexington, 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
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 250 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- INT, 23 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.