Cessna 172N accident near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, May 4, 1983
On May 4, 1983 at about 5:47 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N1996E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1983 · about 5:47 am local time
- Place
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1996E · no longer on the register · serial 17271113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS WERE PARTICIPATING IN A GRAND PRIX AIR RACE. AFTER A NORMAL PREFLIGHT, THEY TOOK OFF & CROSSED OVER THE ARPT FOR RACE TIMING PURPOSES. A CLIMB WAS BEGUN ON COURSE, AND A SHORT TIME LATER, THE ENGINE BEGAN LOOSING POWER. THE AIRCREW TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT, BUT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN QUIT. DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT STOPPED ABRUPTLY. AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED & PUNCTURED THE CRANKCASE. BEARING DAMAGE WAS EVIDENT THRU-OUT THE ENGINE REFLECTING LACK OF LUBRICATION. TWO MAGNETO DRIVE CUSHIONS WERE FOUND BLOCKING THE OIL SYS PICK-UP TUBE. THESE WERE IN ADDITION TO THE TWO WHICH WERE PROPERLY INSTALLED IN THE MAGNETO DRIVE SYS. AN OPENING BETWEEN THE ACCESSORY SECTION & THE OIL SUMP WOULD ALLOW THE CUSHIONS TO ENTER THE OIL SUMP.
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: 318 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 211 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 608 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 1982; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CVG Cincinnati OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from CGI, 1 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.