Cessna 172I accident near Victoria, Texas, September 18, 1992
On September 18, 1992 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172I, registered N46084, was substantially damaged in an accident near Victoria, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
BLOCKED ENGINE ASSEMBLY BREATHER TUBE AND THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION WITH KNOWN MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCIES. FACTORS WERE OIL ON WINDSHEILD AND REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO OIL ON THE WINDSCREEN..
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1992 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Victoria, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172I · all 172Is on the register
- Registration
- N46084 · registry record · serial 17257031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO AND SMOKE WAS OBSERVED BY A WITNESS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING, OIL COVERED THE WINDSHIELD. ON FINAL APPROACH THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED OIL LEAKING FROM THE CRANKCASE SEAL AND THE BREATHER TUBE WAS COMPLETELY PLUGGED WITH DEBRIS. THE ENGINE HAD RECENTLY EXPERIENCE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. A MAINTENANCE PERSON REPORTED THAT HIS SURVEY OF THE DAMAGE FOLLOWING THE FIRE HAD INCLUDED RUBBER COMPONENTS AND HOSES. THERE WAS NO RECORD THAT THE BREATHER HOSE HAD BEEN REPLACED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,000 hours in all; 8,500 in this make and model; 26,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RFG Refugio TX at 6:25 pm
- Destination: 07F Gladewater TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from VCT, 15 miles away
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.