Cessna 172M accident near Lairdsville, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1988
On May 27, 1988 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N5164H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lairdsville, Pennsylvania. It was a personal 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
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 27, 1988 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lairdsville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N5164H · registry record · serial 17265355
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172 TOOK OFF ON A SOLO X-C FLIGHT WITH A STUDENT PILOT/OWNER OPERATOR AT THE CONTROLS. AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND MADE AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE NOSE WHEEL DUG IN AFTER APPROX 200 FT AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER. DURING POST ACC EXAM THE ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN AND APPROX 1 PINT OF OIL WAS FOUND INSIDE. THREE CONNECTING RODS WERE TIGHT AND DRY FROM LACK OF LUBRICATION. NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKAGE FM THE ENGINE WAS FOUND. THE OIL PUMP HAD NOT FAILED AND THE OIL LINES WERE TIGHT AND HAD BEEN PRESSURE CHECKED TO 220 PSI. THE SPARK PLUGS EXHIBITED NORMAL IGNITION SIGNATURES AND NO EVIDENCE OF BLOWBY WAS FOUND.
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: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 96 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,549 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M30 Honesdale PA
- Destination: IPT Williamsport PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.