Cessna 172F accident near Wyandotte, Indiana, July 22, 1995
On July 22, 1995 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N8599U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wyandotte, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the number three intake valve became stuck (seized), which resulted in a loss of engine power. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1995 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Wyandotte, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8599U · no longer on the register · serial 17252499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO 'POP' AND THE ENGINE SPEED DROPPED TO 1,400 RPM. THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RECOVER. THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER HILLY/FOREST TERRAIN WITH ONLY A SMALL WHEAT FIELD. DURING AN ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT MADE A 50 DEGREE TURN TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, WINGS, AND EMPENNAGE. A COMPRESSION CHECK REVEALED COMPRESSIONS OF 50, 55, 10, 66, 62, AND 58 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH IN CYLINDERS ONE THROUGH SIX RESPECTIVELY. DURING THE CHECK OF THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER, AIR COULD BE HEARD FLOWING INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. EXAMINATION OF THE NUMBER THREE INTAKE VALVE REVEALED 'CONSIDERABLE' CARBON UNDER THE INTAKE VALVE SEAT AND SCRATCHES IN THE VALVE STEM.
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: 815 hours in all; 760 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 736 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,921 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 52OH Coshocton OH at 11:20 am
- Destination: TEL Tell City IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.