JACKSONVILLE, TX, USA
N7825T
CESSNA 172K
THE PILOT WAS ON TOP OF A CLOUD LAYER WHEN HE STARTED EXPERIENCING IRREGULARITIES WITH THE AVIONICS EQUIPMENT, ACCOMPANIED WITH THE SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL INSULATION. SUSPECTING A FIRE, HE STARTED LOOKING FOR A BREAK IN THE CLOUD LAYER TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FINDING A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS, HE DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUDS AND LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD ADJACENT TO A HIGHWAY. HE THEN INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE INTO BUSHES ON THE SIDE OF THE FIELD TO AVOID GOING THROUGH A FENCE AND ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE RIGHT WING SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ANOMALIES OR EVIDENCE OF ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT MAKE ANY EFFORT TO TROUBLESHOOT OR ISOLATE THE IRREGULARITIES.
On October 16, 1993, at 1304 central daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N7825T, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Jacksonville, Texas. Neither the private pilot nor his passenger were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. According to the pilot, they were in cruise flight on top of a cloud layer at 4,500 feet MSL on a cross country flight from Beaumont, Texas, to the Hudson Airport in Mesquite, Texas. During the flight, he started experiencing irregularities with the avionics equipment, accompanied with the smell of burning electrical insulation. Suspecting a fire, the pilot elected to find a break in the cloud layer and execute a precautionary landing at the nearest airport or suitable field. The pilot stated that he did not make any attempt to troubleshoot or isolate the irregularities while in flight. The pilot further stated that a large open field adjacent to a highway was selected and a low approach was made to check the condition of the field. Following the low approach, the pilot executed a no-flap landing to the open field. During the landing roll, the pilot noticed that he was closing rapidly on the fence at the end of the field. He stated that he intentionally ground looped the airplane into bushes on the side of the field to avoid going through the fence and into the highway. The right wing sustained structural damage. Examination of the airplane's electrical system by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, failed to disclose any anomalies, evidence of electrical fire, signs of overheating, or any other defect that would have prevented normal operation.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO TROUBLESHOOT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. A FACTOR WAS AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IRREGULARITY OF AN UNDETERMINED NATURE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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