Cessna 172G accident near Reading, Michigan, April 20, 2013
On April 20, 2013 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N3682L, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Reading, Michigan. 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 partial loss of engine power due to the improper securing of the throttle linkage by maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2013 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Reading, Michigan · 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
- N3682L · registry record · serial 17253851
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight, the engine speed decreased from the selected cruise power setting to 1,900 rpm over a few seconds. The pilot was unable to restore full engine power; therefore, he performed an off-airport landing to a nearby field. The airplane abruptly stopped when it encountered an area of deep mud. A postaccident examination revealed that the throttle control had separated from the carburetor's throttle arm. The corresponding retention hardware was not recovered. The airplane had undergone an annual/100-hour inspection 2 days before the accident flight. The aviation mechanic who performed the inspection and held an inspection authorization certificate reported that, after completing the overhaul of the engine, he could not locate the specified cotter pin used to safety the airframe throttle control to the carburetor throttle arm; therefore, he chose to use safety wire to secure the throttle control assembly instead of the specified cotter pin. Therefore, the throttle control was not properly secured to the carburetor's throttle arm, which allowed them to separate during the accident flight.
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
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 10,550 as pilot in command; 3,550 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 16, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,079 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 2013; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KADG Adrian MI at 3:00 pm
- Destination: KJOT Joliet IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 3:34 pm from KJYM, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.