Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Columbus, Texas 78934
Wednesday, July 12, 2000 17:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to takeoff, an initial check of the magnetos showed the right magneto had a drop of 300-500 rpm. The pilot rechecked the magnetos several times before and after takeoff and both magnetos checked 'normal.' After several minutes at cruise altitude, a drop in engine rpm was noted. A magneto check revealed a 'dead right magneto.' The pilot elected to change course to the closest airport with maintenance facilities. 'Soon thereafter, all power was lost,' and the pilot could not restart the engine. During the forced landing, 'the airplane hit the ground 30-60 feet from the first contact with the trees' and skidded another 25-50 feet before coming to rest on its nose. An engine test run was attempted; the engine would not start. The single-drive dual-magneto was removed from the engine, and a bench test revealed that no spark was being produced from either magneto. An examination of the magnetos revealed that the neoprene cam followers on both sets of points had melted and smeared, which kept the points from opening.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of both magnetos of the dual-magneto single-drive unit. A factor contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/12/2000
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1740
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City COLUMBUS
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78934
Event Date Year 2000
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 135
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1111
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 13 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 10 2001 4:25PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3392E
NTSB Number FTW00LA207
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 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17271530
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 Mar 6 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 7407
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DANNIE E. MCKEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2495 W MOONLIGHT DR.
Aircraft Owner City WACO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76706
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LIONEL C. MOORE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2501 AUSTIN AVE
Operator City WACO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76710
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 PSX
Departure City PALACIOS
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1640
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TE17
Destination City ROBINSON
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2001 4:08AM
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 --