Cessna 172M accident near Vestal, New York, August 23, 1994
On August 23, 1994, a Cessna 172M, registered N61774, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vestal, New York (Tri-Cities airport). 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING AN ABORTED LANDING DUE TO THE THROTTLE CABLE SEPARATING FROM THE CARBURETOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1994
- Place
- Vestal, New York · Tri-Cities · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N61774 · no longer on the register · serial 17264791
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM A LOCAL PREPARATION FLIGHT FOR HIS PRIVATE PILOT CHECK RIDE. HE STATED THAT HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR A LANDING ON RUNWAY 21. HE STATED THAT HE REDUCED THE POWER, LOWERED THE FLAPS, AND THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS A LITTLE FAST. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, BUT WITH INADEQUATE RUNWAY REMAINING HE ELECTED TO TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN HE APPLIED FULL POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE AIRPLANE WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT BY AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE THROTTLE CABLE TO THE CARBURETOR WAS MISSING. SEARCH EFFORTS WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE MISSING BOLT.
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: student
- Flight time: 107 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,362 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 8, 1994; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N17 Endicott NY at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from BGM, 10 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.