Cessna 152 accident near Tucson, Arizona, March 8, 1991
On March 8, 1991 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N69116, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona. 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
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION CAUSED BY A ROTATION OF THE MAIN BEARING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE OPERATOR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO ACCOMPLISH AN ENGINE OVERHAUL WITHIN THE INTERVAL SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 1991 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · 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
- N69116 · no longer on the register · serial 15282492
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A CESSNA 152 EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE DURING PILOT TRAINING MANEUVERS. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THE ENGINE JUST 'FROZE.' EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A CRANKSHAFT BEARING ROTATED AFFECTING THE OIL SUPPLY TO NUMBER 3 AND 4 CONNECTING RODS. NUMBER 3 CONNECTING ROD FAILED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE LOG BOOK REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE HAD ACCRUED 2477.4 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL. THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED TIME BETWEEN OVERHAUL WAS 2400 HOURS.
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: 90 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:45 pm from RYN, 6 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.