- Date
- March 3, 1995, 00:30 local (05:30 UTC)
- Place
- Quantico, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7175MCessna 175
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950303049349A
- Case key
- 38927
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 failure of a connecting rod, which resulted in the total loss of engine power. Subsequently, the airplane was ditched.
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
During cruise flight, there was a loss of engine power and no oil pressure indication. The pilot performed a forced landing and ditched the airplane in the potomac river. The FAA inspector's report stated, '...upon inspecting the engine, a hole approximately 3 inch in diameter was found in the upper part of the crank case. Part of the number 3 connecting rod was laying on top of the engine....'
Factual narrative
On Friday, March 3, 1995, about 0030 eastern standard time, a Cessna 175, N7175M, piloted and owned by James W. Milroy, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Quantico, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There was no flight plan for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he departed Hyde Field, Clinton, Maryland, destined for Blackstone, Virginia. While in cruise flight at 2000 feet mean sea level, he noticed a loss of power and observed no oil pressure indication.
The pilot initiated a forced landing and ditched the airplane in the Potomac River, near the shore line. The airplane came to rest right-side-up in approximately 4 feet of water.
The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's report stated:
...Upon inspecting the engine, a hole approximately 3" in diameter was found in the upper part of the crank case. Part of the number 3 connecting rod was laying on top of the engine....
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7175M
- Reported as
- Cessna 175
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 55475
- Airframe hours
- 2,500
- Engine
- Continental GO-300, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James W. Milroy
- Departed
- W32 · Clinton, MD
- Destination
- BKT · Blackstone, VA
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
- 31
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total · 300 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.