Cessna 120 accident near Maysville, Kentucky, October 8, 1989
On October 8, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N1829N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maysville, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANES ENGINE BY THE PILOT/OWNER RESULTING IN FIVE ROCKER BOX COVER SCREWS BEING MISSING AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE OIL DUE TO THE COVER VIBRATING AND CAUSING A HOLE TO BE WORN IN IT. SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO LOSS OF ENGINE OIL RESULTED IN A FORCE LANDING AT WHICH TIME THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Maysville, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N1829N · registry record · serial 12073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENGINE LOST POWER WHEN ALL OIL WAS LOST FROM ENGINE IN FLIGHT THROUGH HOLE IN ROCKER BOX COVER WHICH WAS RESULT OF 5 OF 6 SECURING SCREWS BEING MISSING AND COVER VIBRATING AGAINST ROCK ARM. AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH POWERLINES DURING SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING. PLT/OWNER STATED HE HAD INSPECTED ALL NUTS AND BOLTS 16 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 735 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 671 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,815 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 1989; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KY29 Farrington KY at 6:55 pm
- Destination: PMH Portsmouth OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.