Cessna R172K accident near Ballston Spa, New York, February 10, 1989
On February 10, 1989 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Cessna R172K, registered N758PW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ballston Spa, New York. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARING(S), AND FAILURE OF THE #1 CONNECTING ROD. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1989 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Ballston Spa, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N758PW · no longer on the register · serial R1723261
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA R172K WAS IN A SLOW DESCENT OUT OF 2500 FT MSL, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALY DAMAGED. A TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A BROKEN #1 CONNECTING ROD AND SEVERAL WORN CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,800 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 6,630 as pilot in command; 6,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,804 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1987; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SCH Scotia NY at 10:15 pm
- Destination: 5B2 Ballston Spa NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°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.