# NTSB NYC89LA037: Cessna 172, N19863, Block Island, RI, December 3, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 3, 1988, 15:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place: Block Island, RI
- Location: 41.1681° N, 71.5778° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BLOCK ISLAND STATE (BID), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1681&lon=-71.5778&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36339
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36339/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA037

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Undershoot, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 182 WAS ON DOWNWIND WHEN HE STATED THAT HE PULLED THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON AND THEN PULLED THE POWER BACK TO 1500 RPM. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT INFORMED THE TOWER. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ABOUT 500 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS OFF AND THE MIXTURE WAS PULLED OUT TO THE IDLE CUTOFF POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19863](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19863-2013-09-20), registration cancelled 2013-09-20, S/N 17260814, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17260814
- Airframe hours: 3496
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ernest Levesque
- Registered owner: Rodney K Veach
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 22, 1988
- Departed: 2B4, NEWPORT, RI
- Airport: BID, Block Island State, runway 28, 2,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 76 total, 64 in this make and model, 31 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 25 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19881203056999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881203056999A), Dec 3, 1988: Cessna 172E, Block Island, RI, Substantial damage. Engine quit on downwind, landed short of runway. Had pulled mixture to off instead of pulling carb heat on.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.