ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 43399
Last updated: 19 May 2013
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| Date: | 17-JUN-1989 |
| Time: | 1730 |
| Type: |  Cessna 172F |
| Operator: | private |
| Registration: | N7939U |
| C/n / msn: | 17251939 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | Vernon, AL -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Vernon, AL (M55) |
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL WITH THE ENGINE SPUTTERING, MISSING. IT THEN CRASHED INVERTED IN A LARGE OPEN FIELD ABOUT 100 FT EAST OF A LINE OF TREES; ONE TREE HAD SEVERAL BRANCHES BROKEN NEAR THE TOP. ENG TEST/TEARDOWN REVEALED NO COMPRESSION #6 CYL; BOTTOM SPARK PLUG CENTER ELECTRODE MISSING; ELECTRODE DEBRIS IN EXHAUST VALVE SEAT/FACE. THE FAILED PLUG SHOWED EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND PREIGNITION. LAST ANNUAL WAS 11/3/83, ABOUT 44 HRS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. ALL PLUGS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY CLEANED AND SERVICED; NONE OF THE REMAINING PLUGS EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF DETONATION OR PREIGNITION. PILOT PERFORMED OWN MAINTENANCE AND ALSO REPORTEDLY MIXED OWN AUTO/AVIATION GASOLINE. CAUSE: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BY THE PILOT/MECHANIC WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CLEAR TREES DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Sources:
NTSB: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001213X28484
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
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