# NTSB CEN24LA354: Cessna 170A, N1249D, Marshall, IN, September 11, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 11, 2024, 12:12 local (16:12 UTC) - Place: Marshall, IN - Coordinates: 41.479367, -86.0542 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4794&lon=-86.0542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195111 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA354 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195111/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195111 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA354 ## Probable cause The fatigue fracture of the No. 6 piston connecting rod, which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that during cruise flight there was a loss of engine power that was preceded by a loud banging sound. The engine oil temperature increased, and oil sprayed onto the windshield. The pilot planned to land the airplane on a short open area but overshot the area because he could not dissipate enough of the airplane’s energy. He then landed the airplane on a corn field where it contacted the corn, nosed over, and impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a hole in the crankcase above the No. 6 cylinder assembly. The No. 6 connecting rod was fractured near its base. Metallurgical examination of the connecting rod revealed the fracture features were consistent with fatigue cracking that initiated at multiple locations on the outer surface opposite the inner bearing surfaces that mated to the crankshaft. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2024, at 1212 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N1249D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Marshall, Indiana. The airline transport pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot stated that during cruise flight at 3,500 ft above mean sea level and 120 mph, there was a loud repeating banging sound and a loss of engine power. Engine oil temperature increased to 220o F, engine oil pressure decreased below 35 psi, and engine oil sprayed onto the airplane’s windshield. As the airplane descended, the pilot looked for an area to perform a forced landing. The pilot planned to land the airplane on a short open area but overshot the open area because he could not dissipate enough of the airplane’s energy. He then landed the airplane on a corn field where it contacted the corn, nosed over, and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage that included damage to the wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a hole in the crankcase above the No. 6 cylinder assembly. The No. 6 connecting rod was fractured near its base. Metallurgical examination of the No. 6 connecting rod revealed fracture features that were consistent with fatigue cracking. The cracks initiated at multiple locations on the outer surface opposite the inner bearing surfaces that mated the crankshaft. These cracks propagated through most of the rod yoke arm cross section until the remainder subsequently fractured from tensile overstress. All other fracture surfaces were consistent with overstress fracture. Maintenance records showed the engine received a major overhaul on September 27, 2010. The last annual inspection on the engine was dated March 1, 2024, and the engine had 572.7 hours since the major overhaul. Continental manual M-O Ch. 6-3, Table 6-1 states, C125, C145 series and O-300-A,B,C,D engines have a time between overhauls of 1,800.0 hours or 12 years, whichever comes first. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1249D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1249D-2024-11-01), registration cancelled 2024-11-01, S/N 20121, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20121 - Year built: 1951 - Airframe hours: 3484 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2024 - Departed: 82I5, Huntley, IL - Destination: EKX, Elizabethtown, KY - Airport: 82IS - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 10, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 7,218 total, 1,188 in this make and model, 4,366 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg ## 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 20240911012969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240911012969A), Sep 11, 2024: Cessna 170A, Marshall, IN, Substantial damage. On 09/11/2024, a 1951 Cessna 170A departed landings condominium airport (82IS) in huntley, IL at approximately 0944 CDT heading southeast towards… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195111. 96.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17756613&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18759327&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� component removal (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18758973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Component%20Removal-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� Continental aerospace (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18760119&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Continental%20Aerospace-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 12 pages, 82.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18435945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Logbooks%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18440287&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.pdf - Materials laboratory factual report (item 7, PDF, 12 pages, 12 photos, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18470561&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=25-015%20-%20Materials%20Lab%20Factual%20Report%20(CEN24LA354)-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.