- Date
- September 18, 1992, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Victoria, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N46084Cessna 172I
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920918037769A
- Case key
- 18566
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
Blocked engine assembly breather tube and the pilot's continued operation with known maintenance discrepancies. Factors were oil on windsheild and reduced visibility due to oil on the windscreen..
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
Engine oil pressure dropped to zero and smoke was observed by a witness coming from the engine. During the emergency landing, oil covered the windshield. On final approach the left wing struck the terrain. Examination of the engine revealed oil leaking from the crankcase seal and the breather tube was completely plugged with debris. The engine had recently experience an engine compartment fire. A maintenance person reported that his survey of the damage following the fire had included rubber components and hoses. There was no record that the breather hose had been replaced.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N46084
- Reported as
- Cessna 172I
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17257031
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Stratton, Laurence E.
- Registered owner
- Stratton, Laurence E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 30, 1991
- Departed
- RFG · Refugio, TX
- Destination
- 07F · Gladewater, TX
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
- 63
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 27,000 total · 8,500 in this make and model · 26,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VCT, 15 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.