Cessna 172N accident near Austin, Texas, February 23, 1996
On February 23, 1996 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6601D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the #3 connecting rod. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain 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 23, 1996 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6601D · no longer on the register · serial 17272888
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-rated student had completed a 'normal touch-and-go on runway 36 at Austin Executive Airpark. After turning crosswind and during climb to pattern altitude, the engine started 'surging and the entire airplane was violently shaking.' The flight instructor took the controls and executed a 180 degree turn to attempt to land downwind on runway 18. The aircraft 'overshot' the runway, descended through trees, and came to a stop inverted. Examination of the engine revealed the #3 connecting rod bolts were broken, the bolt boss was broken off, and the cap was bent. The #3 connecting rod bearings were found destroyed.
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 single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 278 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 131 as pilot in command; 14 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,198 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 15, 1996; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Canelas International Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 3R3 at 10:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from AUS, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.