Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin 53965
Saturday, July 22, 1989 12:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT HEARD A 'MUFFLED POP' FROM THE ENG. APRX 30 SEC LATER, HE NOTICED SMOKE ENTERING THE COCKPIT & SOME POWER LOSS. OIL PRESSURE WAS OBSERVED GOING TO ZERO. THE PLT SHUT OFF THE FUEL & MADE AN EMERG LANDING. DRG THE LANDING, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE & THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. A POST-ACDNT INSPN REVEALED THE OIL FILLER CAP WAS LOOSE & HANGING FROM ITS CHAIN. A TEARDOWN INSPN OF THE ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL DEFECTS WHICH WOULD HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR THE OIL LOSS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INSURE THE OIL FILLER CAP WAS PROPERLY SECURED WHEN HE SERVICED THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE TAKEOFF, AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF OIL AND OIL EXHAUSTION. THE TREE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WISCONSIN DELLS
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53965
Event Date Year 1989
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 2200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1091
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 22 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39368
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N736DA
NTSB Number CHI89LA141
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 R172K
Aircraft Series Identifier R172K
Aircraft Serial Number R1722434
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Jul 17 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 1938
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT B TOENSES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1724 2ND AVE. NW
Aircraft Owner City WAVERLY
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50677
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT B. TOENJES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1724 2ND AV. NW
Operator City WAVERLY
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 50677
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 C25
Departure City WAVERLY
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FLD
Destination City FOND DU LAC
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --