Cessna 172 accident near Lewiston Woodville, North Carolina, June 29, 2024
On June 29, 2024 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 172, registered N46118, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Lewiston Woodville, North Carolina (Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport). It was a personal 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 obstruction of the engine’s cooling system by foreign object debris (residential-type insulation), which resulted in smoke, an elevated oil temperature, and a subsequent off-airport landing on unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2024 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lewiston Woodville, North Carolina · Williamsburg-Jamestown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 I, built 1968 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N46118 · registry record · serial 17257051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About an hour after departure, while en route to his destination, the pilot noted that the engine’s oil temperature was higher than normal and observed what appeared to be smoke coming from the engine cowling. He determined there was a possible engine fire emergency and chose to perform a landing to a cultivated field. During the landing, the left wing struck vegetation and the airplane came to rest in the field in an upright position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing and left aileron. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a foreign material consistent with residential-type insulation obstructed the engine’s oil cooler and some cylinder cooling fins. There was no evidence of fire or fire damage noted to the engine or airframe. It is likely that the foreign material embedded in the oil cooler and some cylinder cooling fins restricted engine cooling, which resulted in an elevated oil temperature. The source of the foreign material, which was also found in the induction air filter and on the nose landing gear, could not be determined.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › Eng air baffle sec (recip.) › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › Cooler › Damaged/degraded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 316 hours in all; 316 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 229 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 2, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,170 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 2024; 17.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 4,170 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JGG Williamsburg VA at 9:16 pm
- Destination: 01NC Hampstead NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from ASJ, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KASJ 292145Z AUTO 17007KT 10SM SCT055 BKN065 34/21 A3005 RMK AO2 T03400212
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Left wing impact damage and aileron separation noted
Photograph 2 – oil cooler obstructed with a residential-type insulation
Photograph 3 – Residential-type insulation noted on nose landing gear
Photograph 4 – Residential-type insulation noted in engine areaThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB 6120 1 Form | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Examination Summary FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Wreckage Release Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.