Cessna 172K accident near Bridgeport, Texas, June 16, 1984
On June 16, 1984 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N84103, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeport, Texas. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1984 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeport, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N84103 · no longer on the register · serial 1725833
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLT, THE PLT NOTED A PROGRESSIVE LOSS OF ENG POWER. THE APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT HAD NO EFFECT. SUBSEQUENTLY, A LOUD NOISE OCCURRED & THE PLT SHUT DOWN THE ENG. DURING A FORCED LANDING THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE #4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED. INTERNAL DAMAGE WAS FOUND TO HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. A FURTHER EXAM REVEALED THAT THE DIAPHRAGM OF AN OIL PRESSURE SWITCH HAD RUPTURED & ALLOWED DEPLETION OF THE ENG OIL SUPPLY. THE SWITCH, DATCON PN 40558-1, WAS INSTALLED ON 1/1/74, DIRECTLY INTO THE ENG BLOCK (TAPPED OIL GALLERY HOLE) & WAS USED IN CONNECTION WITH ELECTRICAL ACTION OF THE ACFT'S HOURMETER. DATCON SERVICE BULLETIN #1, SUBJECT: HAZARDOUS INSTALLATION OF OIL PRESSURE SWITCHES, DATED 1/2/75, NOT COMPLIED WITH.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,704 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1983; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPS Wichita Falls TX at 6:00 pm
- Destination: FTW Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.