Cessna 152 N4745B accident, Ore City, TX, Jan 31, 1989 · NTSB FTW89LA044

Probable cause

Slippage of the center crankshaft bearing, which resulted in oil starvation and subsequent failure of the #3 connecting rod. Contributing factors were: the aircraft owner's continued operation of the engine beyond the manufacturer's recommended overhaul period, the dark night, the pilot's failure to maintain roadway alignment during the landing, and the ditch/culverts.

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.

Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malfCruise - normal

Maintenance,overhaul,major - not performedCompany/operator managementFactor

Engine assembly,bearing - slippedCause

Fluid,oil - starvationCause

Engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,totalCause

Forced landingDescent - emergency

On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll

Light condition - dark nightFactor

Terrain condition - roadway/highway

Proper alignment - not maintainedPilot in commandFactor

Terrain condition - ditchFactor

Nose overLanding

Aircraft

Registration: N4745B
Reported as: Cessna 152
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 15283613
Airframe hours: 4,495
Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Operator: Gateway Aviation Inc.
Registered owner: Gateway Aviation Inc
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · December 8, 1988 · 77 hours before
Departed: SHV · Shreveport, LA
Destination: DAL · Dallas, TX
Airport: NONE

N4745BRegistration cancelled Dec 11, 1989 · Cessna 152S/N 15283613 Airframe modelCessna 152

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: 19
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 93 total · 62 in this make and model · 41 as pilot in command · 93 in the last 90 days · 38 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind: 210° at 5 knots
Visibility: 7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observed at: GGG, 25 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.

Accident 19890131001359ACessna 152 · Ore City, TXEngine threw a connecting rod en route at night. Landed on road. Hit culverts. Nosed over.Jan 31, 1989 · N4745B · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N4745B · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA85FA233Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportKissimmee, FLThe acft collided with another acft at about 300 ft AGL during the aproach to a practice precision lndg. After the collision both acft landed saftely.Aug 12, 1985 · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage NTSB CHI82IA364Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportPontiac, MIThe pilot was on a local flight in Cessna 152, N4745B, practicing landings during a period of peak traffic. While the pilot was in the traffic to land on runway 27R, another Cessna 152, N24236, was cleared onto the left runway (27L). At 1722:05, N24236 was…Sep 23, 1982 · 2 aircraft · Minor damage