# NTSB SEA92LA137: Cessna 172, N6089A, Mckinnon, WY, June 26, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1992, 09:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Mckinnon, WY
- Coordinates: 41.019809, -109.930824 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0198&lon=-109.9308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42842/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA137

## Probable cause

WATER IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WHICH WAS NOT PURGED AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TREES, A FENCE AND THE UNEVEN TERRAIN CONDITION DURING THE LANDING AND ROLLOUT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear strut - overload (cause)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE RPM BEGAN DROPPING/FLUCTUATING AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REACH A NEARBY HIGHWAY TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING HE COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF SEVERAL SMALL TREES AND WHILE ROLLING OUT OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN THE AIRCRAFT PASSED THROUGH A FENCE AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR STRUT SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE FUEL DRAINED FROM THE GASCOLATOR AS WELL AS WATER IN THE PILOT'S ABOVE GROUND AUTO GAS STORAGE TANK. STANDARD CESSNA 172 PREFLIGHT PROCEDURES CALL FOR THE DRAINING OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL STRAINER TO CHECK FOR PRESENCE OF WATER AND SEDIMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6089A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6089A-1994-03-18), registration cancelled 1994-03-18, S/N 28689 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28689
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mitchell, Darrell A.
- Registered owner: Mitchell, Darrell A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 1989
- Departed: 40U, MANILA, UT
- Destination: 40U

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RKS, 44 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 19920626025629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920626025629A), Jun 26, 1992: Cessna 172, Mckinnon, WY, Destroyed. Lost power on sightseeing flight. Clipped trees and nosed up landing. Water in fuel system. Aircraft out of annual.

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.