- Date
- July 16, 1996, 07:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place
- Daggett, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N738NZCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 16, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960716017909A
- Case key
- 29510
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 fracture and separation of an exhaust valve head for undetermined reasons.
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 reported that he was in cruise flight when the engine suddenly ran rough and lost power. The pilot attempted to land on a desert road; however, the road curved more than the aircraft could turn at the speed it was traveling after touchdown and the aircraft left the road and hit a berm. During recovery operations an exhaust valve head fell out of the exhaust stack. Maintenance personnel reported that the fracture faces on the head and corresponding stem were obliterated due to peening. The engine was overhauled about 24 hours prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On July 16, 1996, at 0740 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N738NZ, collided with a berm while attempting a forced landing on a desert road near Daggett, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of power during cruise. The aircraft was operated by Barstow Aviation of Daggett, and was rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Daggett on the morning of the accident at 0700.
The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight when the engine suddenly ran rough and lost power. The pilot attempted to land on a desert road; however, the road curved more than the aircraft could turn at the speed it was traveling after touchdown and the aircraft left the road and hit a berm.
During recovery operations an exhaust valve head fell out of the exhaust stack. Maintenance personnel reported that the fracture faces on the head and corresponding stem were obliterated due to peening. The engine was overhauled about 24 hours prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N738NZ
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17270120
- Airframe hours
- 2,739
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Barstow Aviation
- Registered owner
- Allen Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- DAG
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
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 81 total · 48 in this make and model · 25 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAG, 10 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.