Cessna 172N accident near Arvin, California, May 16, 1994
On May 16, 1994 at about 6:24 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N738VE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arvin, California. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a fatigue failure of the crankshaft gear teeth.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1994 · about 6:24 pm local time
- Place
- Arvin, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738VE · no longer on the register · serial 17270265
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 10,000 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND RECEIVED VECTORS TO A SMALL AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT COULD NOT LOCATE THE AIRSTRIP AND ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD; HOWEVER, POWER LINES PREVENTED ITS USE. THE PILOT LANDED IN AN ADJACENT FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN SOFT TERRAIN. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR TEETH HAD FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. INTERNAL ENGINE GEARS MATING TO THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR WERE NOT DAMAGED. THE CRANKSHAFT WAS INSTALLED IN THE ACCIDENT ENGINE 644 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AFTER BEING MAGNAFLUXED AND NITRIDE. NO RECORDS OF THE CRANKSHAFT MAINTENANCE HISTORY, PRIOR TO INSTALLATION IN THE ACCIDENT ENGINE, WERE LOCATED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 699 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 613 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1994; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Av Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 5:20 pm
- Destination: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 312° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:24 pm from BFL, 18 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.