Cessna 172N accident near Andover, Massachusetts, November 21, 1996
On November 21, 1996 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4926G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Andover, Massachusetts. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the dual magneto, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, and subsequent collision with trees during a forced landing at night. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1996 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Andover, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4926G · no longer on the register · serial 17273473
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the local night flight, was to conduct a traffic report. During cruise flight, about 1,500 feet above mean sea level, the engine lost power. The pilot's attempts to restore power were unsuccessful, and the engine continued to lose power. Subsequently, the pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted trees. Examination of the engine revealed that it was equipped with a Bendix D3000 magneto, a dual magneto with a common shaft. No spark was observed when the magneto was rotated. Disassembly of the magneto revealed that the cam followers were worn, which prevented the cam lobes from contacting the followers, and subsequently, prevented the points from operating.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,090 hours in all; 457 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 62 in the last 30 days; 1,999 as pilot in command; 520 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,198 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 19, 1996; 2 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: BVY Beverly MA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:30 pm from LWM, 8 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.