# Mixture control

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0105) › [Engine controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010576) › Mixture control
- NTSB code: 01057602
- Cases: 41
- In the probable cause: 38
- Fatal cases: 4
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 4 / 4
- 2009: 3 / 3
- 2010: 1 / 1
- 2011: 7 / 8
- 2012: 3 / 3
- 2013: 1 / 1
- 2014: 4 / 4
- 2015: 0 / 1
- 2016: 1 / 1
- 2017: 4 / 5
- 2018: 2 / 2
- 2021: 1 / 1
- 2022: 2 / 2
- 2024: 4 / 4
- 2026: 1 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 15 cases
- [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 12 cases
- [Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191): 5 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases
- [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 2 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 2 cases
- [Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190): 1 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 1 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta): 5 cases
- [Cirrus Design SR22](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr22): 3 cases
- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 3 cases
- [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b): 2 cases
- [Socata TB 10](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tb-10): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-36-375](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-375): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250): 1 cases
- [Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-105-special): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 11 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 8 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 6 cases
- [High density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020) (Environmental issues): 4 cases
- [Use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Scheduled maint checks](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010520) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015) (Environmental issues): 2 cases
- [Terrain, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000) (Environmental issues): 2 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA092), Jan 9, 2026: Cessna 172P (N96493), Flemington, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent manipulation of the mixture control, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb and a subsequent forced lading.
- [NTSB WPR25LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA070), Dec 22, 2024: Vans RV-7A (N1FB), Gila Bend, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A disconnection of the mixture control linkage during flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing was the inadequate inspection of the mixture control arm…
- [NTSB CEN25LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA021), Oct 17, 2024: Mooney M20K (N231MW), Elizabeth, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to set the engine fuel mixture to the required setting, which resulted in reduced engine power during a go-around and subsequent impact with trees. Contributing to the accident,…
- [NTSB WPR25LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA011), Oct 8, 2024: Air Tractor AT502 (N243LA), Corcoran, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper manipulation of the condition lever during flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and a forced landing.
- [NTSB ERA24LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA195), Apr 27, 2024: Reddick Jonathan L Zodiac 601XLB (N601DR), Dunbar, PA, destroyed. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power as a result of an improperly fabricated fuel-air mixture cable bracket. Contributing was the pilot’s decision to fly the airplane with a known mechanical engine issue,…
- [NTSB WPR23LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA077), Dec 25, 2022: Beech V35B (N65Y), Livermore, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent use of the mixture control instead of the throttle, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ERA22LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA321), Jul 15, 2022: Cessna 150G (N3301J), Tuscaloosa, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s inadvertent use of the fuel mixture knob instead of the carburetor heat knob, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power.
- [NTSB ANC21LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA040), May 10, 2021: Piper PA-18-105 Special (N5489H), Gakona, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to initiate a flight with a failed mixture control cable which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN18LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA275), Jul 12, 2018: Whittman Tailwind (N619NT), Orient, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s and the flight instructor's incorrect use of the modified mixture control, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and a forced landing. Also causal was the…
- [NTSB ANC18CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18CA052), Jul 1, 2018: Cessna 182 (N5020D), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's mismanagement of the engine controls due to distraction in the traffic pattern, which resulted in a hard landing short of the runway.

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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