Cessna 172G accident near Rio Hondo, Texas, March 17, 1990
On March 17, 1990 at about 9:11 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N4696L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Hondo, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OIL STARVATION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AND THE SOFT TERRAIN IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 1990 · about 9:11 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Hondo, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4696L · registry record · serial 17254691
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2,500 FEET, HE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM AND DETECTED SMOKE IN THE CABIN. AFTER REDUCING THROTTLE TO A CONTROLLABLE RPM, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WAS ZERO. HE SUBSEQUENTLY EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN BRUSHY AREA THAT WAS THE BEST AVAILABLE. DURING ROLL OUT THE NOSE GEAR DUG INTO THE SOFT GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR OIL LINE FITTING HAD SEPARATED DUE TO STRIPPING OF THE THREADS OUT OF THE GOVERNOR HOUSING AND THAT THE FITTING WAS INCORRECT FOR THE APPLICATION. THE AIRPLANE HAD EXPERIENCED A FORCED LANDING 13 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT DUE TO AN OIL LEAK AND LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE DUE TO THE JAM NUT ON THE FAILED FITTING HAVING BACKED OFF. ON THAT OCCASION, A MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE LINE AND THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED FOR FLIGHT.
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: 142 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 142 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 1989; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HRL Harlingen TX at 8:20 pm
- Destination: HRL Harlingen TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from HRL, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.