Cessna 172 N3914F

Summary

On 8 May 1993 at about 23:45 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N3914F, operated by Glenn E. Murphy, was involved in an accident near Towanda, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 May 1993 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Towanda, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Towanda (N27)

Coordinates

41.7606, -76.4401

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N3914F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Glenn E. Murphy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Tunkhannock

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO93LA074

2 people were seriously injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE AILERON CONTROL CABLE WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE LEFT AILERON CONTROL CABLE FAILED IN THE VICINITY OF THE RIGHT AFT DOOR POST IN THE LOCATION OF A PULLEY. THE PILOT STATED IT TOOK FULL RIGHT AILERON TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE FROM ROLLING. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND. DURING THE BASE LEG, THE PILOT APPLIED FULL FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO ROLL LEFT AND THE AILERONS DID NOT RESPOND TO CONTROL INPUTS. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND LEFT WING DOWN AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED CABLE REVEALED THAT IT WAS CORRODED IN THE AREA OF THE FAILURE. THE AIRPLANE HAD RECEIVED A 100 HOUR ANNUAL INSPECTION ON OCTOBER 3, 1992. SINCE THE INSPECTION, THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE AIRPLANE WAS TIED DOWN OUTSIDE FOR MOST OF THE TIME SINCE PURCHASED IN THE YEAR 1958. THE FAILED AILERON CONTROL CABLE WAS AN ORIGINAL CABLE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.