# NTSB MIA95LA108: Cessna 172M, N19901, Panacea, FL, April 15, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1995, 10:37 local (14:37 UTC)
- Place: Panacea, FL
- Coordinates: 30.029331, -84.379867 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0293&lon=-84.3799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37752
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37752/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA108

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING A FORCED LANDING TO A RUNWAY. THIS RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE ROLLING OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND SUBSEQUENT ON GROUND COLLISION WITH A FENCE AND A TELEPHONE BOOTH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A SEPARATION OF THE NUMBER TWO EXHAUST VALVE HEAD FROM THE VALVE STEM FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## 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
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - separation (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - undetermined
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Overrun, landing - roll
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence
  - object - other

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE REPORTED TO TALLAHASSEE APPROACH CONTROL THAT THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH.  HE THEN REPORTED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY.  THE PILOT STATED HE WAS HIGH, LANDED LONG, ROLLED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND A TELEPHONE BOOTH.  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY FAA REVEALED THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER FAILED DUE TO THE EXHAUST VALVE HEAD SEPARATING FROM THE EXHAUST VALVE STEM.

## Factual narrative

On April 15, 1995, about 1037 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N19901, registered to Aeromart of the Rock, crashed while landing at Wakulla County Airport, Panacea, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight began from Panama City-Bay County International Airport about 1 hour 22 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he reported to Tallahassee Approach Control that the airplane's engine was running rough. He then reported a total loss of engine power and declared an emergency. The pilot stated he was high, landed long, and rolled off the departure end of the runway. The airplane collided with a fence and telephone booth, resulting in substantial damage.

Examination of the engine by FAA personnel revealed the number two cylinder's exhaust valve head separated from the valve stem for undetermined reasons.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19901](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19901-2012-08-07), registration cancelled 2012-08-07, S/N 17260848, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17260848
- Airframe hours: 3600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ellis, Claude R
- Registered owner: Wedgecorp Construction
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1994, 150 hours before
- Departed: PFN, PANAMA CITY, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 2JO, Wakulla County Airport, runway 18, 2,880 × 170 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 195 total, 195 in this make and model, 135 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TLH, 20 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19950415008079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950415008079A), Apr 15, 1995: Cessna 172M, Panacea, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power near airport. Too high and fast to land overran runway. Struck fence. NR2 cyl exhaust valve failed.

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.

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