Cessna R172K accident near Margate, Florida, January 5, 1989
On January 5, 1989 at about 7:40 am local time, a Cessna R172K, registered N736BX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Margate, Florida (Ft Lauderdale Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN OIL PUMP DUE TO FOREIGN OBJECT(S), WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARK NIGHT AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 1989 · about 7:40 am local time
- Place
- Margate, Florida · Ft Lauderdale Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N736BX · no longer on the register · serial R1722407
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE BEING VECTORED TO INTERCEPT THE LOCALIZER COURSE AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 2200 FT, APRX 5 MILES FROM THE ARPT, THE RPM GAUGE FLUCTUATED. THE PLT APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, MIXTURE & PROPELLER CONTROLS, BUT THE ENG THEN LOST POWER. DURING A SUBSEQUENT OFF-AIRPORT FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED EVIDENCE OF OIL STARVATION. THE ENG DRIVEN OIL PUMP DRIVE SHAFT HAD FAILED FROM OVERLOAD AFTER FOREIGN OBJECT(S) BECAME LODGED BETWEEN THE HOUSING & THE GEARS. ALSO, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF ENG SEIZURE AFTER THE #6 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED & THAT THE #5 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED FROM OVERLOAD.
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: 336 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 159 as pilot in command; 17 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,087 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 2, 1988; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAV Savannah GA
- Destination: FXE Ft Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 am from FLL, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.