Cessna 172N accident near Niagara Falls, New York, June 18, 1989
On June 18, 1989 at about 5:18 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N52HR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Niagara Falls, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THE OIL STARVATION WAS CAUSED BY THE OIL LEAKING OUT OF THE DRAIN BECAUSE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL FAILED TO INSTALL THE DRAIN PLUG.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1989 · about 5:18 pm local time
- Place
- Niagara Falls, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N52HR · registry record · serial 17269354
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT OVER NIAGARA FALLS, NY, AND THE PILOT LANDED IN A WHEAT FIELD SHORT OF THE NIAGARA FALLS AIRPORT. THE NOSE WHEEL STUCK IN THE SOFT FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR HIS THREE PASSENGERS. THE OIL DRAIN PLUG WAS MISSING ALLOWING THE OIL TO DRAIN OUT AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED 6 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE.
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: 119 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 67 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,631 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1989; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1AG Niagara Falls NY at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 9G3 Akron NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.