- Date
- June 7, 1994, 15:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place
- Flowery Branch, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3882LCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 25, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940607014129A
- Case key
- 3397
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The maintenance personnel's failure to properly secure the throttle linkage assembly that resulted in a reduction in engine power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While cruising at 2300 feet, the pilot experienced a drop in engine RPM. The pilot reported that engine RPM dropped from 2500 to 1500; attempts by the pilot to restore full power failed. The pilot selected a nearby field for the forced landing. According to the pilot, he used the magneto switch to control the 1500 RPM available for the approach and forced landing. An examination of the engine assembly revealed that the throttle linkage at the carburetor was disconnected. According to the operator, the carburetor was overhauled and installed on the engine two flight hours before this accident. The throttle linkage is normally secured to the carburetor with a bolt, a nut,and a safety cotter pin; these items were not recovered for examination.
Factual narrative
On June 7, 1994, at 1510 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N3882L, collided with the ground and nosed over after the pilot experienced throttle control problems near Flowery Branch, Georgia. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Cumming, Georgia, at 1445 hours.
According to the pilot, he and the passenger were sightseeing in the local flying area when the throttle failed to respond to inputs from the pilot. He further stated that engine rpm dropped to 1500 and he used the magneto switch to control engine power for the emergency landing.
An examination of the engine assembly revealed that the throttle control linkage was completely disconnected from the carburetor. According to the pilot, the carburetor had been overhauled and installed on the engine two hours before this flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3882L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17254051
- Airframe hours
- 4,024
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mathis, Claudy J.
- Registered owner
- Pianowski, Steve
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 24, 1993 · 12 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 71
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PDK, 30 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3882L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.