Cessna 172P accident near St. Charles, Michigan, September 12, 1992
On September 12, 1992 at about 3:44 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N5361K, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Charles, Michigan. It was an instructional 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 JAMMING OF THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP DRIVEN IMPELLER. THE LACK OF A SUITABLE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1992 · about 3:44 pm local time
- Place
- St. Charles, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N5361K · registry record · serial 17274080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OIL PRESSURE READINGS STEADILY DECREASED AS THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT CARRIED OUT HIS SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE ELECTED TO DIVERT FROM HIS FLIGHT PLAN TO AN ALTERNATE AIRSTRIP THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND PRODUCE SMOKE. AS THE PILOT PROCEDED TO THE ALTERNATE DESTINATION, THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A NEARBY MUDDY BEAN FIELD. UPON LANDING IN THE FIELD, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION OF THE OIL PUMP REVEALED THAT THE OIL PUMP DRIVEN IMPELLER HAD A BROKEN TOOTH, AS WELL AS BROKEN DRIVE TANGS ON THE OIL PUMP DRIVESHAFT.
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: student
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, August 21, 1992; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kal-Aero, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: AZO Kalamazoo MI at 4:00 pm
- Destination: MBS Saginaw MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:57 pm from MBS, 16 miles away
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.