BUTLER, AL, USA
N78840
CESSNA 172K
THE PLT RPTD THAT HE OBSERVED THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE INDICATION DROP TO ZERO DURING A LOW-LEVEL PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT. HE ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE ENGINE PWR AND INITIATE A CLIMB, BUT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED ON THE PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY, WHERE THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. SUBSEQUENT ENGINE TEST-RUNS REVEALED NORMAL OIL PRESSURE INDICATIONS, ON BOTH THE COCKPIT GAUGE AND AN EXTERNAL, DIRECT-READING GAUGE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
