# NTSB NYC94LA054: Cessna 172L, N19679, Mt. Sterling, KY, March 6, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 6, 1994, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Mt. Sterling, KY - Coordinates: 38.060855, -83.939636 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0609&lon=-83.9396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38733 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38733/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA054 ## Probable cause INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE WHICH RESULTED IN THE DISCONNECTION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE FROM THE CARBURETOR AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION NOT PERFORMED, AND COMPLACENCY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - throttle/power lever,linkage - disconnected (contributing factor) - maintenance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency ## Analysis THIS WAS THE THIRD OF THREE FLIGHTS TO GIVE EACH OF THE PASSENGERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT UP FRONT WHILE IN FLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT AT 1800 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, WENT TO IDLE AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE, CARBURETOR HEAT, MIXTURE, AND FUEL SELECTOR CHANGES. A FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED TO AN OPEN FIELD. AS THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A ROAD PERPENDICULAR TO ITS FLIGHT PATH, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK AND BROKE THE TOP STRANDS OF BARBED WIRE FENCES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE ROD-END WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED FROM THE THROTTLE ARM, AND THE SHANK BOLT WAS IN PLACE WITH NO DAMAGE TO ITS THREADS. THE AIRPLANE ANNUAL INSPECTION AND TWO AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES WERE 16 MONTHS OVERDUE. THE PILOT'S RECORDS REVEALED THAT IT HAD BEEN 55 MONTHS SINCE HIS LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED, AND 35 MONTHS SINCE HIS LAST BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. ## Factual narrative On March 6, 1994, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172L, N19679, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to an open field, in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. The pilot and two passengers were not injured, a third passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. This was the third of three flights to give each of the passengers an opportunity to sit up front while in flight. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he had made two take offs and landings without incident. During the third flight, approximately 2 miles from the airport at 1800 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot further stated, "...The engine remained running at idle, no response from throttle, carburetor heat, mixture, fuel selector and magneto switch was checked and found to be okay." The pilot performed a forced landing to an open field. While crossing a road perpendicular to his flight path, the main landing gear struck and broke the top strand of a barbed wire fence on the near side of the road. The airplane continued forward and struck and broke the top strand of barbed wire on the landing field side of the road. The airplane decelerated in a nose down condition, impacted the ground, and nosed over. In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Principal Maintenance Inspector's (PMI) report he states: "...The damage to the propeller is conducive with low power rotation...The engine cowling was removed. The lower engine area was packed with mud. When the mud was removed from the right side of the carburetor, the throttle cable rod end was found disconnected from the throttle arm. The drilled shank bolt was found in place with no damage to the threads. A review of the aircraft maintenance records shows that the annual inspection was 16 months overdue, [and two airworthiness directives were] 16 months overdue." A review of the pilot's records revealed that it had been 55 months since his last medical certificate was issued, and 35 months since his last biennial flight review. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19679](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19679), registered now, S/N 17260662 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17260662 - Airframe hours: 2961 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas E. Korb - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1991, 34 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 870 total, 623 in this make and model, 825 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LEX, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940306003669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940306003669A), Mar 6, 1994: Cessna 172L, Mount Sterling, KY, Substantial damage. In flight, engine lost power, idle didn't respond to throttle. Tried to land, hit fence, nosed over. Throttle loose 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.