Cessna 172G accident near Wanchese, North Carolina, March 3, 1990
On March 3, 1990 at about 6:54 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N3663L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wanchese, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S PREMATURE, DISCONTINUED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1990 · about 6:54 pm local time
- Place
- Wanchese, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3663L · no longer on the register · serial 17253832
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE CLIMBED OVER A CLOUD BANK A FEW HUNDRED FEET HIGH, WHICH WAS LOCATED OVER THE INLET WHICH FLOWED INTO THE ATLANTIC. AS HE TRANSITIONED THROUGH THE COLD FRONT THE OAT GAUGE DROPPED FROM 60 TO 38 DEGREES. ONCE PAST THE CLOUD BANK, HE REDUCED POWER AND APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT TO DESCEND BELOW A SECOND LINE OF CLOUDS AND FOG. HE LEVELED AT 1000 FEET ADDED FULL POWER AND TURNED OFF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. THIRTY SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE QUIT.
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: 345 hours in all; 156 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 274 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8W5 Hatteras NC at 5:40 pm
- Destination: MQI Manteo NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:05 pm from MQI, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.