Cessna 172B accident near San Angelo, Texas, June 17, 2023
On June 17, 2023 at about 1:45 pm local time, a 1960 Cessna 172B, registered N7509X, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near San Angelo, Texas (San Angelo Regional 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
A partial loss of engine power due to loose bolts holding the carburetor throttle body to the fuel bowl.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2023 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- San Angelo, Texas · San Angelo Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B, built 1960 · all 172Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7509X · registry record · serial 17248009
- 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 shortly after takeoff the engine began running rough and the engine lost partial power. The pilot made a forced landing back to the departure airport. During the landing, the airplane touched down hard and departed the side of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the carburetor revealed fuel stains around the outside of the fuel bowl and in the throat of the fuel bowl. Five of the six bolts holding the throttle body to the fuel bowl were found only finger-tight. The partial loss of engine power was most likely the result of air being drawn into the fuel bowl due to the loose bolts. The last annual inspection was completed on the engine in January of 2023. Investigators did not determine the last time maintenance was specifically performed on the carburetor.
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 approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Hard landing during landing
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,450 hours in all; 399 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 10, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2023; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AF16D (piston); 2,973 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJT San Angelo TX at 1:43 pm
- Destination: SJT San Angelo TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,406 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 am from SJT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 5, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Correspondence | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Logs - Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Carburetor Exam Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.