Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lincoln, Texas 78948
Saturday, July 11, 1998 12:47 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses observed the airplane maneuvering at a low altitude with black smoke coming from the engine. During landing toward the southwest on State Highway 21, at the intersection of Farm Road 1624, the airplane went under the power lines which span State Highway 21 striking the lower wire, and continued under the flashing traffic signal lights which also span State Highway 21. The airplane's right wing tip impacted a stop sign. The airplane touched down and bounced, veered to the right, and then impacted a convenience store's gasoline pumps. The airplane exploded into flames and was consumed by the post crash fire. Examination of the engine revealed that the #3 cylinder exhaust valve rocker arm fulcrum was displaced, and the rocker arm retaining stud could be turned by hand. The tapped hole in the cylinder head for the exhaust rocker arm retaining stud did not conform to blueprint specifications. There was also evidence which indicated a probable recent maintenance activity on the #3 cylinder. The aircraft's operator could not locate the airplane's airframe and engine logbooks.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The #3 cylinder exhaust valve rocker arm fulcrum retaining stud backing out of its stud-tapped hole due to the improper tapping of the stud hole by unknown maintenance personnel. Contributing factors were the transmission wire, sign and gasoline pump.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1247
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City LINCOLN
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78948
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 267
Weather Observation Facility ID AUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 634
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1535
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 11 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5632E
NTSB Number FTW98FA307
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17271907
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 25 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name W.J. BONEFAS CO., INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8802 BELCHER
Aircraft Owner City MANVEL
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77578
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code T28
Departure City LAMPASAS
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3TA1
Destination City MANVEL
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --