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NTSB Report
September 10, 1988 · Cessna 182M · N4834P
Crescent City, CA
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 10, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Crescent City, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 182M
Tail Number
N4834P
Operator
Edward H Pierce
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX88LA316
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS AND THEN BEGAN BACKFIRING. HE 'CUT' THE POWER BACK TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM 'SHAKING APART' & TRIED TO GLIDED THE AIRPLANE TO AN AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING OF ROUGH TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION & TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE #2 PISTON HAD FAILED. A METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE PISTON REVEALED PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKS.
NTSB Probable Cause
FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 2 PISTON DUE TO PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE PISTON.
Full Narrative
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS AND THEN BEGAN BACKFIRING. HE 'CUT' THE POWER BACK TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM 'SHAKING APART' & TRIED TO GLIDED THE AIRPLANE TO AN AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING OF ROUGH TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION & TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE #2 PISTON HAD FAILED. A METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE PISTON REVEALED PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKS.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:29 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 182M
Tail NumberN4834P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEdward H Pierce
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-R · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind290° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO