NTSB CHI93LA205 — 1993-06-13 · HARTFORD, Wisconsin, United States

Current FAA registration · N55404

Make / Model: CESSNA 172P
Year of manufacture: 1981 · 12 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19810727
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A710BC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N55404 Cessna 172P None

Probable cause & findings

THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Factual narrative

DURING TAKEOFF, ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL OVER THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD POP, THE ENGINE'S POWER DROPPED OFF AND OIL SMOKE FILLED THE AIR. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A GRASS RUNWAY. DURING THE ROLLOUT, THE AIRCRAFT WENT OFF THE EDGE OF THE GRASS STRIP AND CROSSED A SHALLOW DITCH, SEPARATING THE NOSE AND LEFT MAIN GEAR FROM THE AIRPLANE. AN ENGINE TEAR DOWN REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER SPLIT IN HALF NEAR THE CENTER OF THE BARREL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1993_CHI93LA205.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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