Cessna 172S accident near Cambridge, Nebraska, June 16, 2001
On June 16, 2001 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N494SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cambridge, Nebraska (Cambridge Municipal Airport). It was a personal 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
the pilot's high airspeed and improper emergency procedures during the emergency landing. Factors relating to this accident were the fractured engine exhaust valve push rod, the bent intake valve push rod, and oil exhaustion during cruise flight, the tailwind, and the pilot's incorrect evaluation of the wind conditions during the emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2001 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Cambridge, Nebraska · Cambridge Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N494SP · registry record · serial 17258035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that he was approximately 20 miles south of Cambridge, Nebraska, at 6,500 feet mean sea level when his engine began to run rough and the airplane began to lose altitude. The pilot said he immediately turned toward the airport and declared an emergency. The pilot said he planned to land on runway 32 because he estimated the winds were out of the southwest. As he approached the airport, the pilot realized he was high and made a right 360 degree turn to lose altitude. The pilot said he was still high after the turn and decided his best option was to land on runway 14. When he turned on final for runway 14, the pilot realized that he was on a downwind approach. He decided that he had no option but to continue. The pilot said he had great difficulty getting the plane on the runway and bounced a couple of times. The pilot said it became apparent to him that he was not going to stop on the runway. "I decided to try to divert to [a] plowed field to the left of the runway ... I used the throttle to boost the plane over a road and a fence. Once clear I chopped the power and stalled the plane into the field." After touchdown, the airplane nosed over. An examination of the airplane's engine showed the intake and exhaust valves push rod tubes pushed upward and off on the number 2 cylinder. The intake valve push rod was bent upward. The exhaust valve push rod was broken 5 inches outward from the tappet seat. An examination of the airplane's other systems revealed no anomalies.
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: 156 hours in all; 156 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 79 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 24, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,142 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 25, 2001; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PMV Plattsmouth NE at 1:21 pm
- Destination: AFF Usaf Academy CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 4,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from MCK, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.