Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Michie, Tennessee 38357
Thursday, July 14, 1988 18:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH DURING TAKEOFF; THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY DISAPPEARED FROM SIGHT IN A NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PLT LATER REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER THE EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE POWER LOSS. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NUMEROUS MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES INCLUDING SEVERAL SPARK PLUGS W/CRACKED INSULATORS, AN INOP MAGNETO, FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION, AND FUEL TANK VENT SYSTEM BLOCKAGE. 'VISE-GRIP' TOOL MARKINGS WERE FOUND ON SEVERAL OF THE SPARK PLUGS. THE ENGINE RAN AND DEVELOPED SATISFACTORY PWR ON A TEST-STAND AFTER THE INOP MAG AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY DEVELOP PARTIAL PWR AND WOULD NOT EXCEED 1200 RPM WHEN THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS WERE REINSTALLED. THE PLT, WHO WAS ALSO THE ACFT OWNER, WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR THE ACFT. THE PLT'S LAST MEDICAL EXAM WAS 5 1/2 YRS EARLIER, ACCORDING TO FAA RECORDS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/14/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MICHIE
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38357
Event Date Year 1988
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1390
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 15 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 805
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37507
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N19632
NTSB Number ATL88LA216
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 172L
Aircraft Series Identifier 172L
Aircraft Serial Number 17260626
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
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 NEWCOMB, RON R.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 347
Aircraft Owner City SELMER
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38375
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --