Cessna 172P accident near Nutwood, Illinois, September 16, 2015
On September 16, 2015 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1982 Cessna 172P, registered N65191, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Nutwood, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to the undetected loosening of the four carburetor bolts that connect the throttle body to the bowl assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2015 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nutwood, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P, built 1982 · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N65191 · registry record · serial 17275705
- 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 maneuvering the airplane at 3,000 ft mean sea level, the engine lost partial power and began running roughly. After unsuccessfully attempting to regain normal engine power, the pilot executed a forced landing into a field, during which the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the carburetor revealed a gap between the throttle body and bowl assembly, and all four bolts connecting the throttle body to the bowl assembly were found loose. Both the engine and carburetor manufacturers had previously issued service bulletins (SB) regarding possible leakage between the bowl assembly and throttle body, likely due to loose bowl to throttle body screws. The SBs recommended inspecting the carburetor screws every 100 hours of engine operation. The last 100-hour inspection of the engine occurred 89 hours before the accident.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering
- Nose over/nose down during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Inadequate inspection
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 167 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,071 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 2015; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 7,320 hours total
- Operator: Sixninethreeonea LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KSET St Charles MO at 3:00 pm
- Destination: KSET St Charles MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from KSET, 11 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.