Cessna 172RG accident near Ozark, Alabama, September 17, 1990
On September 17, 1990 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N6411V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ozark, Alabama. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE ENGINE OVERHAUL PROCEDURES WHICH ALLOWED THE INSTALLATION OF THE ENGINE PLUG WITHOUT SAFETY WIRE TO HOLD IT IN PLACE, AND WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION OF THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1990 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Alabama
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N6411V · registry record · serial 172RG0673
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT AFTER LEVELING AT CRUISE ALTITUDE A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED. A FORCED LANDING TO A HAYFIELD WAS BEGUN. DURING THE DESCENT OIL COVERED THE WINDSCREEN & THE ENGINE SEIZED. WHILE ON LANDING ROLL THE NOSE LANDING GEAR SHEARED. SUBSEQUENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A PLUG WHICH HAD BEEN INSERTED IN ONE OF THE VACANT ENGINE COMPONENT DRIVE GEAR OPENINGS HAD NOT BEEN SAFETY WIRED. THE PLUG WAS FOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE COWLING. THE ENGINE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT OF THE DRIVE OPENING WHEN THE PLUG FELL OUT WHICH RESULTED IN SEIZURE OF THE ENGINE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 722 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 346 in the last 90 days; 91 in the last 30 days; 717 as pilot in command; 290 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 1990; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alabama Aviation & Tech Coll
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.