- Date
- July 19, 1992, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Reserve, LA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N89970Cessna 120
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920719055279A
- Case key
- 18533
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 the valve failure. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
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
The pilot experienced a complete engine failure after takeoff while passing through 200 feet AGL. The airplane subsequently landed in a rough open field as there was no other suitable terrain. Investigation revealed that the no. 1 cylinder exhaust valve had separated and the stem was ingested into the engine. The valve head was found imbedded in the piston head. Due to the level of damage sustained by the valve parts, the exact failure mode could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N89970
- Reported as
- Cessna 120
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 9088
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hicks, Timothy J.
- Registered owner
- Hicks, Timothy J.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 19, 1992 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- 0LA4
- Destination
- 0LA4
- Airport
- 0LA4 · St. John, runway 18, 4,000 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 28
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 175 total · 54 in this make and model · 112 as pilot in command · 44 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSY, 20 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.