Cessna 172RG accident near Plano, Texas, February 17, 1995
On February 17, 1995 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N5096U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plano, Texas. It was a positioning 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 DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR DUE TO THE LOOSENING OF THE GEAR RETAINING BOLT AND THE SUBSEQUENT FRACTURE OF THE GEAR ALIGNMENT DOWEL. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 17, 1995 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Plano, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N5096U · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0230
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DESCENDING EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE NOSE WHEEL SEPARATED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER COMING TO REST INVERTED. DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A LOSS OF GEAR TRAIN CONTINUITY DUE TO THE LOOSENING OF THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR RETAINING BOLT AND THE SUBSEQUENT FRACTURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR ALIGNMENT DOWEL. THE AIRPLANE'S PROPELLER HAD BEEN REPLACED ON 02/13/92 FOLLOWING A NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE; HOWEVER, AD 91-14-22 WAS NOT COMPLIED WITH AS THE ENGINE DID NOT EXPERIENCE SUDDEN STOPPAGE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 629 as pilot in command; 163 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,976 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1994; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Menagerie Enterprises
The flight
- Departed from: TKI Mckinney TX at 5:50 pm
- Destination: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.