- Date
- October 8, 1995, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Crockett, TX
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N738DFCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951008031339A
- Case key
- 19683
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
failure of both magnetos to operate properly due to inadequate maintenance by other maintenance personnel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available 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
According to the pilot, he was en route to Tyler, Texas, when the engine lost power. He reported activating carburetor heat, moving fuel selector from both to 'left or right', and trying to restart the engine. The engine did not start and he proceeded to make a forced landing. Upon touch down in a soft field the airplane nosed over coming to rest in the inverted position. Attempts to start the engine during a test run were not successful. Examination of the magnetos revealed that the contacts in both magnetos were not opening when the rotor was turned. The contacts were adjusted and the internal timing per manufactures maintenance manual was set. After reinstallation of the magnetos, the engine started and operated normally.
Factual narrative
On October 8, 1995, at 1200 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N738DF, registered to Ginevan Enterprises, Inc. and operated by Ellington Field Aero Club under Title 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Crockett, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight and a flight plan was not filed. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Houston, Texas, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes before the accident.
According to the pilot, he was cruising at 5,500 feet en route to Tyler, Texas. Shortly after passing Kennard, Texas, the engine lost power. The pilot reported activating carburetor heat, moving fuel selector from both to "left or right", and trying to restart the engine. The engine did not start and he proceeded to make a forced landing. Upon touch down in a soft field the airplane nosed over coming to rest in the inverted position.
The engine was removed and mounted on another airframe for a test run. Attempts to start the engine were not successful. Examination of the magnetos revealed that the contacts in both magnetos were not opening when the rotor was turned. The contacts were adjusted and the internal timing per manufactures maintenance manual was set. After reinstallation of the magnetos, the engine started and operated normally.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N738DF
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17269890
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ellington Field Aero Club
- Registered owner
- Ginevan Enterprise, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 19, 1995 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- EFD · Houston, TX
- Destination
- 09R · Tyler, TX
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 109 total · 35 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LFK, 25 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.