Cessna 172N accident near Seligman, Arizona, August 13, 1989
On August 13, 1989 at about 6:11 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5961J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seligman, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER ARM PIVOT STUD, WHICH WAS IN TURN CAUSED BY A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1989 · about 6:11 pm local time
- Place
- Seligman, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5961J · registry record · serial 17273847
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, A SEVERE VIBRATION BEGAN IN THE ENGINE WITH A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN ENGINE RPM TO ABOUT 1500. THE PILOT NOTED THAT ALL ATTEMPTS AT REMEDIAL ACTION MET WITH NO SUCCESS AND THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING INSUFFICIENT POWER TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BUT THERE WAS TOO MUCH VEHICLE TRAFFIC TO MAKE A SAFE LANDING. THE PILOT THEN LANDED IN A DIRT FIELD ADJACENT TO THE HIGHWAY, CONTACTED A LARGE BERM DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER ON ITS BACK. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED HEAVY DEPOSITS ON THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES. THE EXHAUST VALVE FOR THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER REVEALED THAT THE ROCKER ARM PIVOT STUD FOR THE EXHAUST VALVE WAS BROKEN WITH SHEAR SIGNATURES EVIDENT.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 768 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 551 as pilot in command; 359 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1989; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: North Air, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 4:41 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.