Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hesperia, California 92345
Wednesday, September 11, 1991 11:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO CLIMB OR MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED TO FAA INSPECTORS THAT HE CHANGED FUEL TANKS AND ADJUSTED THE MIXTURE TO NO AVAIL. HE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT NUMBER 2 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HAD STUCK OPEN FROM CARBON BUILD UP. A MANUFACTURERS SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AT THE RECOMMENDED TIME, NOR WERE OTHER ITEMS OF IN SERVICE INSPECTION/INFORMATION REGARDING VALVE STICKING ADDRESSED ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS AVAILABLE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO THE OPERATOR'S NON COMPLIANCE WITH A MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ENGINE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A SAFE LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/1991
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City HESPERIA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92345
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID VCV
Elevation of weather observation facility 3390
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 2279
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45770
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N97564
NTSB Number LAX91LA389
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17276210
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MOHAVE AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7070 SUMMIT VALLEY RD.
Aircraft Owner City HESPERIA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92345
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MOHAVE AVIATION INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 7070 SUMMIT VALLEY RD.
Operator City HESPERIA
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92345
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 L26
Departure City HESPERIA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --