# NTSB FTW94LA013: Cessna 172K, N7825T, Jacksonville, TX, October 16, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 16, 1993, 13:04 local (18:04 UTC) - Place: Jacksonville, TX - Coordinates: 31.959411, -95.260208 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9594&lon=-95.2602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18954/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA013 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. A FACTOR WAS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IRREGULARITY OF AN UNDETERMINED NATURE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - electrical system - undetermined (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS ON TOP OF A CLOUD LAYER WHEN HE STARTED EXPERIENCING IRREGULARITIES WITH THE AVIONICS EQUIPMENT, ACCOMPANIED WITH THE SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL INSULATION. SUSPECTING A FIRE, HE STARTED LOOKING FOR A BREAK IN THE CLOUD LAYER TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FINDING A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS, HE DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS AND LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD ADJACENT TO A HIGHWAY. HE THEN INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE INTO BUSHES ON THE SIDE OF THE FIELD TO AVOID GOING THROUGH A FENCE AND ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE RIGHT WING SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ANOMALIES OR EVIDENCE OF ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT MAKE ANY EFFORT TO TROUBLESHOOT OR ISOLATE THE IRREGULARITIES. ## Factual narrative On October 16, 1993, at 1304 central daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N7825T, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Jacksonville, Texas. Neither the private pilot nor his passenger were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. According to the pilot, they were in cruise flight on top of a cloud layer at 4,500 feet MSL on a cross country flight from Beaumont, Texas, to the Hudson Airport in Mesquite, Texas. During the flight, he started experiencing irregularities with the avionics equipment, accompanied with the smell of burning electrical insulation. Suspecting a fire, the pilot elected to find a break in the cloud layer and execute a precautionary landing at the nearest airport or suitable field. The pilot stated that he did not make any attempt to troubleshoot or isolate the irregularities while in flight. The pilot further stated that a large open field adjacent to a highway was selected and a low approach was made to check the condition of the field. Following the low approach, the pilot executed a no-flap landing to the open field. During the landing roll, the pilot noticed that he was closing rapidly on the fence at the end of the field. He stated that he intentionally ground looped the airplane into bushes on the side of the field to avoid going through the fence and into the highway. The right wing sustained structural damage. Examination of the airplane's electrical system by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, failed to disclose any anomalies, evidence of electrical fire, signs of overheating, or any other defect that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7825T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7825T-2014-10-30), registration cancelled 2014-10-30, S/N 17257538, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257538 - Airframe hours: 1973 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Beaumont Wings Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 5, 1993, 78 hours before - Departed: BMT, BEAUMONT, TX - Destination: HQZ, MESQUITE, TX - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 107 total, 32 in this make and model, 58 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LFK, 51 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19931016039549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931016039549A), Oct 16, 1993: Cessna 172K, Jacksonville, TX, Substantial damage. Beleived electrical problem and smell smoke. Ground looped landing to prevent overrun field. No electrical problem ## Other investigations on N7825T (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CEN13CA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA222), Apr 8, 2013: Cessna 172 (N7825T), Manvel, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while taking off in gusting wind conditions. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.