# NTSB FTW85LA352: Cessna 152, N93729, Lubbock, TX, September 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1985, 10:05 local (15:05 UTC)
- Place: Lubbock, TX
- Coordinates: 33.589534, -101.849746 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5895&lon=-101.8497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21851
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA352
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21851/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA352

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE WHEN A CONNECTING ROD BOLT FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. HE WAS CLIMBING IN IMC WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HE WAS RADAR VECTORED TOWARD HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND ONE AND A HALF MILES FROM THE AIRPORT AND FORCE LANDED IN A MUDDY COTTON FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED INVERTED WHEN THE NOSE GEAR MADE CONTACT WITH THE SOFT GROUND. MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TOP OVERHAULED THREE TIMES DURING ITS LIFE BUT HAD NEVER BEEN MAJOR OVERHAULED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N93729 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285542
- Airframe hours: 3626
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sandene, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: F82, LUBBOCK, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 850 total, 612 in this make and model, 787 as pilot in command, 463 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LBB, 2 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850921046879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850921046879A), Sep 21, 1985: Cessna 152, Lubbock, TX, Substantial damage. Engine vibrated and quit. Flipped over during landing in a muddy field. Connecting rod bolt failed.

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.

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