Cessna C-172P N54694
20 July 1991 · Hesperia, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 20 July 1991 at about 19:30 local time, a Cessna C-172P registered N54694, operated by South Bay Aviation, was involved in an accident near Hesperia, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hesperia, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.0497, -117.2396
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-172P
- Registration
- N54694
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- South Bay Aviation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Las Vegas → Torrance
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA323
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
A STUCK ENGINE THROTTLE DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT DECIDED TO DIVERT TO HESPERIA DUE TO WEATHER. DURING THE ENROUTE LET DOWN, THE PILOT DISCOVERED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS FROZEN AND COULD NOT BE MOVED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ADD POWER. THE THROTTLE WAS FROZEN AT AN ENGINE POWER LEVEL INSUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH HIGH TENSION POWER LINES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MANEUVER TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS FROZEN IN AN INTERMEDIATE SETTING. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED ON JUNE 18, 1991. AT THAT TIME THE CARBURETOR WAS ALSO OVERHAULED, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF NEW THROTTLE BUSHINGS AND A SHAFT. BETWEEN THE ENGINE OVERHAUL AND THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT DISCREPANCY LOG SHEETS MAINTAINED BY SOUTHBAY AVIATION DOCUMENTED SIX PRIOR COMPLAINTS BY RENTER PILOTS THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION RECORDED ON THE DISCREPANCY SHEETS CONSISTED OF REPLACING THE THROTTLE CABLE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna C-172P accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Sep 1985 | Cessna C-172P | Scammon Bay, Alaska, United States | Village Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1985 | Cessna C-172P | Zanesville, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1984 | Cessna C-172P | MacOmb, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft 76 | Sacramento, California, United States | Altair Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Visalia, California, United States | Gilbert Aviation Industries | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Cessna 421C | Auburn, California, United States | Edward Mueller | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Champion 7GCBC | Lake Elsinore, California, United States | Halbeisen, John F | Fatal | 2 |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Mooney M20E | Riverside, California, United States | Todd Dreyer | Minor injuries | - |