Cessna 175A accident near Overgaard, Arizona, July 19, 1992
On July 19, 1992 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Cessna 175A, registered N8048T, was destroyed in an accident near Overgaard, Arizona (Mogollon Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PERFORMANCE PLANNING AND DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE OVER THE MAXIMUM CERTIFIED GROSS WEIGHT AT A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AIRPORT WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS DURING THE THREE PRECEDING ANNUAL INSPECTIONS WHICH FAILED TO DETECT BROKEN GEAR TEETH FROM A PREVIOUS MAINTENANCE DEFICIENCY WHICH ACCELERATED THE ENGINE WEAR THROUGH FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1992 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Overgaard, Arizona · Mogollon Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175A · all 175As on the register
- Registration
- N8048T · no longer on the register · serial 56748
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 175A DESCENDED DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE ABOUT ONE QUARTER MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT HAND PROPPED THE AIRPLANE TO START THE ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE THEN TAXIED FOR DEPARTURE WITH THREE OTHER ADULTS IN THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT TWENTY FEET AND DID NOT GAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DETERMINED TO BE 21 POUNDS OVER GROSS WEIGHT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 8,800 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED METAL PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN THE ENGINE OIL. ANALYSIS OF THE ENGINE OIL REVEALED ENGINE WEAR TO BE HIGH FOR THE 13 HOURS SINCE THE LAST OIL CHANGE. TEETH FROM A BROKEN STARTER DRIVE GEAR WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE OIL SUMP. THE STARTER DRIVE HAD BEEN REPLACED 3.5 YEARS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THREE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS WERE COMPLETED IN THE 3 YEAR PERIOD.
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: 3,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,238 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO 300A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AZ82 at 3:20 pm
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.