Cessna 172P N98FR

Summary

On 1 April 2011 at about 20:35 local time, a Cessna 172P registered N98FR, operated by Isla Grande Flying School, was involved in an accident near Vega Baja, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 April 2011 at 20:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Vega Baja, United States

Nearest airport

Camp Tortuguero (Abandoned)

Coordinates

18.4683, -66.4353

Aircraft

Cessna 172P

Registration

N98FR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Isla Grande Flying School

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Borinquen → San Juan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ERA11LA230

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve resulting in a loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During cruise flight, about 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine lost power and began to vibrate. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude, so he performed a forced landing to a nearby abandoned military airfield. After touchdown, the airplane departed the end of the runway and collided with trees and bushes resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve failed, and the valve parts exited the engine through the exhaust system. The operator reported that the exhaust valve had accumulated about 1,120 hours since installation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.