- Date
- September 11, 1991, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Hesperia, CA
- Injuries
- 3 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N97564Cessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 3, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910911039339A
- Case key
- 27355
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
A stuck exhaust valve due to the operator's non compliance with a manufacturers recommended service bulletin on the engine. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a safe 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
During the initial climb, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power, and was unable to continue to climb or maintain altitude. The pilot stated to FAA inspectors that he changed fuel tanks and adjusted the mixture to no avail. He landed straight ahead into unsuitable terrain and nosed over. Investigation determined that number 2 cylinder exhaust valve had stuck open from carbon build up. A manufacturers service bulletin regarding this possible problem had not been accomplished at the recommended time, nor were other items of in service inspection/information regarding valve sticking addressed according to the records available.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N97564
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17276210
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mohave Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner
- Mohave Aviation Inc.
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- L26 · Hesperia, CA
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 6,000 total · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- VCV, 1 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.