Cessna 205A accident near Spring, Texas, January 14, 1992
On January 14, 1992 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna 205A, registered N8352Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring, Texas. It was a business 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
THE PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO CYLINDER FATIGUE AND RESULTANT ENGINE VIBRATIONS. FACTORS WERE THE OIL COVERED WINDSHIELD RESTRICTING THE PILOT'S VISION AND THE WET TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1992 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Spring, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205A
- Registration
- N8352Z · no longer on the register · serial 205-0352
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 12,000 FEET AGL THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SEVERE ENGINE VIBRATIONS AND OIL WAS OBSERVED ESCAPING FROM THE ENGINE COWLING ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. ATC INITIALLY GAVE VECTORS FOR LANDING AT AN AIRPORT ABOUT 18 MILES AWAY. OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD OBSCURED VISIBILITY AND ENGINE VIBRATIONS WORSENED AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON WET PLOWED TERRAIN THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. FOUR OF THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER STUDS EXHIBITED MULTI-ORIGIN FATIGUE AT THE FRACTURE SURFACE DUE TO IMPROPER STRETCH OR TORQUE ON THE STUDS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,100 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,300 as pilot in command; 2,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,043 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1991; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DWH Tomball TX at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from HOU, 23 miles away
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.