Cessna 172 accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, April 26, 1993
On April 26, 1993, a Cessna 172, registered N6698A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a fatigue failure of the crankshaft due to improper assembly of the engine during the major overhaul.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1993
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6698A · no longer on the register · serial 172 28798
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was in cruise flight at 7,500 feet when the pilot heard five loud bangs after which the engine seized. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a farm field and collided with rough terrain and a fence. Examination of the maintenance records revealed that the engine had been in service for about 35 years and had been majored twice during 2,000 total operating hours. The most recent major overhaul occurred 13 years and 344 hours prior to the accident. Internal examination of the engine disclosed that the crankshaft had failed in fatigue at the number two main journal. Detailed metallurgical examination revealed that the number one bearing insert had been mispositioned during assembly of the crankcase causing a localized oil flow restriction to the main bearings and an eventual fatigue failure of the crankshaft.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1993; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-340-414 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0L9 Overton NV
- Destination: DVT Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.