- Date
- November 15, 1992, 07:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place
- Williams, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6060RCessna 172G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921115046619A
- Case key
- 27865
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 partial loss of engine power due to a stuck exhaust valve on the number two cylinder and the pilot's inability to climb the aircraft above the trees surrounding the airport. A factor in the accident was the effects of the high density altitude on the aircraft climb performance.
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
The pilot, the pilot rated passengers and a mechanic ground witness reported that the aircraft used the entire length of the runway to become airborne. The aircraft would not climb, and, while flying in ground effect, collided with a tree about one mile off the end of the runway. The density altitude was computed to be just over 7,000 feet. The mechanic witness said the engine sounded like the carburetor heat was on during the takeoff ground roll. Detailed examination of the engine revealed that the exhaust valve on the number two cylinder was stuck in the open position. A engine overhaul facility reported that the valve was stuck due to 'a considerable amount of carbon' in the valve guide.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6060R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17253727
- Airframe hours
- 3,549
- Engine
- Continental O-300D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rachel G. Bonzon
- Registered owner
- Dorothy D. Limbach
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 10, 1992 · 69 hours before
- Departed
- P32
- Destination
- PRC · Prescott, AZ
- Airport
- P32 · Williams Muni, runway 18, 6,000 × 60 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
- 70
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,843 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 1,743 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
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 N6060R · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.