Cessna 172 N172XX

Summary

On 4 November 2021 at about 13:47 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N172XX was involved in an accident near Decatur, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 November 2021 at 13:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Decatur, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Dekalb-Peachtree (PDK)

Coordinates

33.7938, -84.2779

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N172XX

Category

Airplane

Year built

1959

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Perry

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA045

1 person had minor injuries.

Oil exhaustion due to an oil leak that resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that, before takeoff, he added 1 quart of oil, bringing the oil quantity to full capacity. Shortly after takeoff, while the airplane was at an altitude of 1,500 ft mean sea level, the pilot noted that the engine began running roughly, which was followed by a total loss of engine power. He pitched the airplane to attain its best glide airspeed. He descended the airplane for a forced landing to a four-lane road, during which the airplane struck powerlines and came to rest inverted on the road. Postaccident examination of the engine found that crankcase was breached consistent with a catastrophic failure. Additionally, a substantial amount of oil was covering the exterior of the bottom fuselage skin from the engine compartment to the tailcone, fresh oil was noted in the cockpit floor area, and only a minimal amount of oil remained in the engine. Given this information it is most likely that the total loss of engine power occurred due to oil exhaustion, that was precipitated by an oil leak. At the rear portion of the engine, the oil filter adapter and its attached base had separated from the accessory case. Although it is possible that the oil leak emanated from this location, the available evidence for this investigation precluded a definitive determination of the source for the oil leak.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.