- Date
- July 28, 1999, 06:10 local (11:10 UTC)
- Place
- Pontotoc, MS
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1092VCessna R172K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 2, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990728010029A
- Case key
- 46952
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
a complete loss of engine power due to the failure of the oil pressure pump, resulting in oil starvation, a forced landing and subsequent nose over.
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
About 10 minutes after takeoff, the pilot reported there was a '...sudden change [in] engine rpm gage. Noticeably [sic] loss of power.' He informed ATC of the problem and had reached an altitude of about 2,300 mean sea level. The pilot attempted a forced landing in a cornfield. Upon landing the airplane nosed over and stopped upside down. Examination of the wreckage revealed that fuel was present in the airplane's fuel tanks. Examination of the engine revealed that the oil pump drive gear was found sheared, causing oil starvation to the engine which resulted in a complete loss of power.
Factual narrative
On July 28, 1999, about 0610 central daylight time, a Cessna R172K, N1092V, registered to an individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Pontotoc, Mississippi. The private-rated pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the vicinity, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was being conducted in accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time and was en route to Memphis, Tennessee.
About 10 minutes after takeoff, the pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power and the propeller stopped. According to the pilot there was a "...sudden change engine rpm gage. Noticeably [sic] loss of power. Informed Memphis Center of problem...had reached [altitude] of approximately 2,300 msl. Engine stopped. Landed in cornfield. Aircraft flipped over nose-stopped upside down." Examination of the wreckage revealed that fuel was present in the airplane's fuel tanks.
The engine was examined at Jewell Aircraft Engines, Holly Springs, Mississippi, under the supervision of the FAA. Removal of the rear accessory case revealed that the oil pump drive gear was found sheared, causing oil starvation to the engine which resulted in a complete loss of power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1092V
- Reported as
- Cessna R172K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1722115
- Airframe hours
- 2,296
- Engine
- Continental IO-360K, 195 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jimmy D. Shelton Pa
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 15, 1999
- Departed
- TUP · Tupelo, MS
- Destination
- MEM · Memphis, TN
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
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 377 total · 375 in this make and model · 308 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TUP
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.