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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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July 16, 1986 · Cessna 172L · N3933Q

Aberdeen, MD

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 16, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Aberdeen, MD
Aircraft
Cessna 172L
Tail Number
N3933Q
Operator
Civil Air Patrol-Maryland Wing
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO86LA040

THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH DURING FLT, THEN ALL AT ONCE, IT STARTED VIBRATING EXCESSIVELY. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE PHILLIPS AAF, BUT THE ARPT WAS CLOSED & THE RWY LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. BY THE TIME HE SAW THE RWY, THE ACFT WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO LAND, SO HE TRIED MANEUVERING TOWARD AN OPEN AREA ON THE ARPT. HOWEVER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE PUSHROD WAS BENT & THE #1 INTAKE VALVE WAS BROKEN. AFTER THIS ACCIDENT, THE OWNER/OPERATOR (CAP) STOPPED USING PHILLIPS XC2 ENG OIL DUE TO POSSIBLE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS USE WHICH INCLUDED STICKING VALVES.

Full Narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH DURING FLT, THEN ALL AT ONCE, IT STARTED VIBRATING EXCESSIVELY. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE PHILLIPS AAF, BUT THE ARPT WAS CLOSED & THE RWY LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. BY THE TIME HE SAW THE RWY, THE ACFT WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO LAND, SO HE TRIED MANEUVERING TOWARD AN OPEN AREA ON THE ARPT. HOWEVER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE PUSHROD WAS BENT & THE #1 INTAKE VALVE WAS BROKEN. AFTER THIS ACCIDENT, THE OWNER/OPERATOR (CAP) STOPPED USING PHILLIPS XC2 ENG OIL DUE TO POSSIBLE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS USE WHICH INCLUDED STICKING VALVES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time01:30 EDT
Nearest AirportPhillips Aaf (0nm N)
Runway22
Runway Length8000 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172L
Tail NumberN3933Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCivil Air Patrol-Maryland Wing
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind250° @ 5 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time05:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data