Cessna O-2A accident near Tucson, Arizona, October 1, 1993
On October 1, 1993 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna O-2A, registered N5151A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona (Ryan Field). It was a ferry 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
was the partial loss of engine power during initial climb due to partial clogging of the engine's fuel injectors. Blockage of the fuel injectors was due to inadequate maintenance of the fuel system by contract maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1993 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · Ryan Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna O-2A · all O-2As on the register
- Registration
- N5151A · registry record · serial 68-6873
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The front and then rear engines lost partial power during initial climb from the Ryan Field near Tucson, Arizona. Unable to continue climbing, the pilot made a forced landing in rough terrain about two miles east of the airport. An examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed two of the front engine's six fuel injectors were partially clogged with a foreign substance. No clogging of the rear injectors was found. Prior to the accident (ferry) flight, the airplane had been idle for several years. In preparation for the flight, recent maintenance which included limited purging of the fuel system had reportedly been accomplished by contractor maintenance personnel.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nat. Museum Of Naval Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: RYN at 7:20 pm
- Destination: Not Reported
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6R, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX94LA001.