# NTSB ERA24LA289: Cessna 172, N46118, Lewiston Woodville, NC, June 29, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 29, 2024, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Lewiston Woodville, NC · cultivated field - Coordinates: 36.033729, -77.15066 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0337&lon=-77.1507&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194590 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA289 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194590/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194590 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA289 ## Probable cause The obstruction of the engine’s cooling system by foreign object debris (residential-type insulation), which resulted in smoke, an elevated oil temperature, and a subsequent off-airport landing on unsuitable terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant: eng air baffle sec (recip.)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057112): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057112/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057112/cases.md) - [Eng oil sys (airframe furnish): cooler](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057921): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057921/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057921/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis About an hour after departure, while en route to his destination, the pilot noted that the engine’s oil temperature was higher than normal and observed what appeared to be smoke coming from the engine cowling. He determined there was a possible engine fire emergency and chose to perform a landing to a cultivated field. During the landing, the left wing struck vegetation and the airplane came to rest in the field in an upright position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing and left aileron. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a foreign material consistent with residential-type insulation obstructed the engine’s oil cooler and some cylinder cooling fins. There was no evidence of fire or fire damage noted to the engine or airframe. It is likely that the foreign material embedded in the oil cooler and some cylinder cooling fins restricted engine cooling, which resulted in an elevated oil temperature. The source of the foreign material, which was also found in the induction air filter and on the nose landing gear, could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2024, about 1800 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172I airplane, N46118, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lewiston Woodville, North Carolina. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane departed Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport (JGG), Williamsburg, Virginia, with a destination of Topsail Airpark (01NC), Holly Ridge, North Carolina. About an hour after departure, while en route to his destination at a cruise altitude of 3,500 ft mean sea level, the pilot noted the engine’s oil temperature was higher than normal and observed what appeared to be smoke coming from the engine cowling. He determined there was a possible engine fire emergency and chose to perform a landing to a cultivated field. During the landing, the left wing struck vegetation, and the airplane came to rest in the field in an upright position. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the airplane’s left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. Further examination revealed that a foreign material consistent with residential-type insulation obstructed the engine’s oil cooler and some cylinder cooling fins. There was no evidence of fire or fire damage noted to the engine or airframe. The source of the foreign material, which was also in the induction air filter and on the nose landing gear, could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46118](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46118), registered now, S/N 17257051, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (I) - Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257051 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 4170 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Epiphany Software Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2024, 17.8 hours before - Departed: JGG, Williamsburg, VA - Destination: 01NC, Hampstead, NC - Airport: JGG, Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 316 total, 316 in this make and model, 229 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: ASJ, 16 nm away - METAR: KASJ 292145Z AUTO 17007KT 10SM SCT055 BKN065 34/21 A3005 RMK AO2 T03400212 ## 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 20240629007039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240629007039A), Jun 29, 2024: Cessna 172I, Lewiston Woodvi, NC, Substantial damage. 30 Minutes into the flight, the pilot noticed smoke coming from the engine area, and the oil temperature was rising. The pilot made an emergency landing in a… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194590. 4.9 MB in all. - NTSB 6120 1 form (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19945897&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Examination summary FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19945805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Examination%20Summary%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19945990&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release form (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19980541&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-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.