- Date
- January 23, 1993, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Baytown, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N73405Cessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 25, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930123000779A
- Case key
- 18689
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 power due to a stuck exhaust valve in the number 3 cylinder
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
During the takeoff roll the pilot recognized that the engine was not developing full power. The pilot aborted the takeoff, however, he felt that the airplane would run off the end of the runway. Ground speed at the time of abort was 55 to 60 knots. He intentionally ground looped the airplane by applying full rudder. Following the ground loop the airplane slid into a ditch. An examination of the engine revealed a stuck exhaust valve in the number 3 cylinder
Factual narrative
On January 23, 1993, at approximately 0845 central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N73405, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff following the loss of engine power at the Baytown Airport, Baytown, Texas. Weather for the visual flight rules flight was visual meteorological conditions. The pilot sustained no injuries. Intercoastal Incorporated of Highlands, Texas, was the owner and operator.
During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector the pilot reported the following information. During the takeoff on runway 31 the engine did not develop full power so he aborted the takeoff at approximately 55 to 60 knots. He felt he could not stop the airplane prior to reaching the end of the runway. His reaction was to ground loop the airplane by applying full left rudder. Following the ground loop, the airplane slid into a ditch.
A detailed examination of the engine revealed that an exhaust valve in the number 3 cylinder was stuck. No other anomalies were found.
The airplane was released to the owner.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N73405
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17267434
- Airframe hours
- 2,160
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Intercoastal Inc.
- Registered owner
- Intercoastal Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 18, 1993 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- HPY
- Destination
- HPY
- Airport
- HPY · Humphrey, runway 13, 3,994 × 40 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
- 24
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,010 total · 233 in this make and model · 2,854 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 44 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HOU, 30 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.
Other investigations on N73405 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.