Cessna 172B accident near Midway, Tennessee, July 29, 1990
On July 29, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172B, registered N8091X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midway, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL FAILURE OF THE NUMBER FOUR EXHAUST VALVE, RESULTING IN ENGINE POWER LOSS AND THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Midway, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B · all 172Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8091X · registry record · serial 17248591
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT WHEN HE NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A BINDING NOISE AND SEEMED TO BE IN A SLIGHT STRAIN. WHILE RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE PILOT COULD NO LONGER MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE WAS FORCE LANDED IN A CORNFIELD AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT CONTACTED A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE HAD FAILED, ENTERING THE CYLINDER. THE LOOSE VALVE DAMAGED AND SEIZED THE PISTON, BREAKING THE CONNECTING ROD. THE VALVES WERE LAST REPLACED DURING A MAJOR OVERHAUL IN 1971. ABOUT 681 HOURS HAD BEEN LOGGED SINCE THE OVERHAUL.
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: 160 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,834 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 8, 1990; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GCY Greeneville TN at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 3A2 Tazewell TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from TRI, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.