Cessna 172XP accident near Clarksburg, Tennessee, August 19, 1994
On August 19, 1994 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172XP, registered N9797V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarksburg, Tennessee. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATOR DRIVE COUPLING, AND DEBRIS FROM THE FAILED COUPLING THAT LODGED IN THE ENGINE OIL PUMP, RESULTING IN A SHEARED OIL PUMP DRIVE SHAFT. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED BECAUSE OF OIL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1994 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksburg, Tennessee
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172XP · all 172XPs on the register
- Registration
- N9797V · no longer on the register · serial 1722350
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT SELECTED A PASTURE AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE ROLLOUT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES ALONG A FENCE LINE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR DRIVE COUPLING FAILED, AND DEBRIS FROM THE COUPLING LODGED IN THE ENGINE OIL PUMP DRIVE; THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE.
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: 1,238 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,087 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1993; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JWN Nashville TN at 9:40 pm
- Destination: OLV Memphis TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from MKL
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.