# NTSB LAX95LA296: Cessna 172P, N5462K, Hesperia, CA, August 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 1995, 14:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Hesperia, CA - Coordinates: 34.359878, -117.319145 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3599&lon=-117.3191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29189 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA296 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29189/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA296 ## Probable cause The failure of the connecting rod due to the rod bolt backing off, and the pilot's misjudging the distance and altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - engine assembly,connecting rod bolt - separation (cause) - engine assembly,connecting rod bolt - missing (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Overrun, landing - roll - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AT CRUISE ALTITUDE. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING TO AN AIRPORT, BUT OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT A CONNECTING ROD SEPARATED AND ITS ROD BOLTS WERE MISSING. THE ENGINE HAD ACCRUED 1,759 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 1995, at 1440 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N5462K, exited the departure end of runway 03 at Hesperia Air Lodge, Hesperia, California, while completing an emergency landing. The emergency landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, operated by Cable Air, Upland, California, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot/certified flight instructor, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Cable Airport in Upland at 1200 hours. The pilot said in a telephone interview conducted on August 17, 1995, that he was conducting a local flight. While at a normal cruise altitude at 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl) and about 5 miles south of Hesperia Air Lodge, the engine sustained a total loss of engine power. The pilot turned the airplane toward Hesperia Air Lodge and landed, downwind, on runway 03 at midfield. Runway 03 slopes downward. The pilot realized that the airplane was going to overshoot the runway and he raised the elevators to "fly over the airport boundary fence." The airplane flew over the fence and landed in some chaparral bushes. The disassembly examination of the engine revealed that the connecting rod separated and its respective rod bolts were missing. The engine accrued 1,759 hours since a major overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5462K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5462K-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 17274128, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274128 - Airframe hours: 8527 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cable Air - Registered owner: Marilyn Cable - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 1995, 18 hours before - Departed: CCB, UPLAND, CA - Airport: L26, Hesperia, runway 3, 3,910 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,920 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 5,761 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 25 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 19950816024189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950816024189A), Aug 16, 1995: Cessna 172P, Hesperia, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed downwind down slope. Overran runway. Pulled up over fence. Landed in brush. Connecting rod broke 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.