- Date
- July 19, 1992, 08:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place
- Overgaard, AZ
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8048TCessna 175A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920719025849A
- Case key
- 27443
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 pilot's improper preflight performance planning and decision to operate the airplane over the maximum certified gross weight at a high density altitude airport which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance inspections during the three preceding annual inspections which failed to detect broken gear teeth from a previous maintenance deficiency which accelerated the engine wear through foreign object damage.
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
A Cessna 175A descended during the initial takeoff climb and collided with a tree about one quarter mile from the airport. The pilot hand propped the airplane to start the engine. The airplane then taxied for departure with three other adults in the airplane. The airplane climbed to about twenty feet and did not gain altitude. The airplane was determined to be 21 pounds over gross weight. The density altitude was 8,800 feet above mean sea level. Examination of the engine revealed metal particles suspended in the engine oil. Analysis of the engine oil revealed engine wear to be high for the 13 hours since the last oil change. Teeth from a broken starter drive gear were found in the engine oil sump. The starter drive had been replaced 3.5 years before the accident. Three annual inspections were completed in the 3 year period.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8048T
- Reported as
- Cessna 175A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 56748
- Airframe hours
- 1,238
- Engine
- Continental GO 300A, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Falk, Eugene C.
- Registered owner
- Falk, Eugene C.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1992 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- AZ82
- Destination
- SDL · Scottsdale, AZ
- Airport
- AZ82 · Mogollon Airpark, runway 2, 5,000 × 50 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
- 56
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,100 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.