Cessna 152 accident near Wauchula, Florida, January 18, 2009
On January 18, 2009 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6566P, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (change of cruise level) near Wauchula, Florida. 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
A loss of engine power due to failure of the Number 3 connecting rod due to oil contamination. Contributing to the accident was the insufficient oil change time intervals performed by company personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2009 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wauchula, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6566P · registry record · serial 15285034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was climbing to 7,500 feet mean sea level when the engine started vibrating. The engine temperature increased and the engine stopped. The pilot realized that he could not make an airport and made a forced landing to a phosphate field. Examination of the engine revealed that it contained 6 quarts of dark black oil. The oil filter was removed and contained metallic contamination. Disassembly of the engine revealed dirt particle embedment on the Numbers 1 and 2 cylinder connecting rod bearings. The Number 3 connecting rod bearing was found disconnected from the crankshaft, with only small steel fragments remaining. The No. 3 connecting rod cap and associated broken rod bolts displayed overload signatures. The Number 4 connecting rod remained attached to the crankshaft and displayed heavy heat damage consistent with oil starvation. The operator reported that its maintenance personnel were performing oil changes during the 100-hour inspections. Lycoming Mandatory Service Bulletin 480E states that engines with a full-flow filtration system are required to have the oil changed at 50-hour intervals.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (change of cruise level) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (change of cruise level)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng front section › Failure
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- factor Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 270 hours in all; 245 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 220 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 30, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,906 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 8, 2008; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dean International Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: BKV Brooksville FL at 6:15 pm
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from BOW, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N6566P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.