- Date
- August 6, 1992, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Killeen, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6614PCessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920806029599A
- Case key
- 18553
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
Loss of engine power due to a fractured number three cylinder exhaust push rod assembly.
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 student pilot was performing solo flight requirements in the traffic pattern as part of his instructional syllabus when the engine started vibrating as the airplane was climbing on the crosswind leg. The pilot leveled the airplane, elected to maintain the crosswind heading instead of turning downwind for landing, and attempted to find out what was causing the engine problem. The airplane started losing altitude as the pilot continued with the in flight fuel mixture adjustments and applications of carburetor heat. The pilot set up for a forced landing and during the descent toward an open area, the airplane impacted trees. Post-accident investigation revealed a fractured push rod assembly on the number three cylinder.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6614P
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15285038
- Airframe hours
- 5,587
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Central Texas College
- Registered owner
- Central Texas College
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 5, 1992 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- ILE
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
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 57 total · 57 in this make and model · 20 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 99 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.