Cessna 172 accident near Williamsburg, Ohio, January 19, 1989
On January 19, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8774B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamsburg, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A DEFECTIVE GASKET IN THE FUEL STRAINER WHICH CAUSED A RESTRICTION IN FUEL FLOW DURING CLIMBOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Williamsburg, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8774B · no longer on the register · serial 36474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT COMPLETED A NORMAL RUNUP BEFORE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE ACFT STARTED LOSING POWER. THE PLT PUMPED THE THROTTLE TO MAINTAIN POWER, BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CLIMB RPM. THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN 8 FT OF WATER APRX 1/2 MILE FROM THE RWY. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL STRAINER GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RUN LEAN.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 780 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 720 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,720 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1988; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.