- Date
- October 24, 1993, 17:14 local (21:14 UTC)
- Place
- Frankenmuth, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N73003Cessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931024040629A
- Case key
- 9419
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
Improper use of the mixture control by the pilot. Factors related to the accident were: the similarity of shape, size, and color of the mixture and carburetor heat controls and the terrain condition (with crop) in the emergency landing area.
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 in cruise flight, the engine sustained loss of power. An emergency landing was made in a crop field, where the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot indicated that he may have activated the mixture instead of the carburetor heat. Subsequent examination revealed that the control knobs for the mixture and carburetor heat were the same shape, size, and color.
Factual narrative
On October 24, 1993, at 1714 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N73003, registered to Ronald C. Thompson of Saginaw, Michigan, and operated by a private rated pilot, experienced a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight. A forced landing was conducted to a crop field. The airplane impacted the terrain on landing and sustained substantial damage. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed Frankenmuth, Michigan at 1630.
On initial contact the pilot-in-command stated that he might have pulled the mixture instead of the carburetor heat.
An examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident did not find any mechanical anomalies which would have contributed to the accident; however the instrument panel arrangement of mixture and carburetor heat are non-standard according to modern industry accepted standards. The shape, size, and color of the knobs is the same. Verification of the function of the control is not identifiable by tactile or visual identification.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N73003
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10208
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thompson, Ronald C.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 8, 1993 · 49 hours before
- Departed
- 66G
- Destination
- 78D · Caro, MI
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
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 135 total · 17 in this make and model · 65 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MBS, 20 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.