Cessna 152 accident near Killeen, Texas, August 6, 1992
On August 6, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6614P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Killeen, Texas. It was an instructional 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FRACTURED NUMBER THREE CYLINDER EXHAUST PUSH ROD ASSEMBLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Killeen, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6614P · no longer on the register · serial 15285038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING SOLO FLIGHT REQUIREMENTS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AS PART OF HIS INSTRUCTIONAL SYLLABUS WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED VIBRATING AS THE AIRPLANE WAS CLIMBING ON THE CROSSWIND LEG. THE PILOT LEVELED THE AIRPLANE, ELECTED TO MAINTAIN THE CROSSWIND HEADING INSTEAD OF TURNING DOWNWIND FOR LANDING, AND ATTEMPTED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ENGINE PROBLEM. THE AIRPLANE STARTED LOSING ALTITUDE AS THE PILOT CONTINUED WITH THE IN FLIGHT FUEL MIXTURE ADJUSTMENTS AND APPLICATIONS OF CARBURETOR HEAT. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING AND DURING THE DESCENT TOWARD AN OPEN AREA, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FRACTURED PUSH ROD ASSEMBLY ON THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER.
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: student
- Flight time: 57 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,587 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 5, 1992; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILE at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.