Cessna 172 accident near Muncie, Indiana, February 20, 2006
On February 20, 2006 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N75593, was substantially damaged in an accident near Muncie, Indiana (Delaware County Airport). It was an instructional 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
The loss of engine power during the final approach to land for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2006 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Muncie, Indiana · Delaware County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N75593 · no longer on the register · serial 17267835
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a field after a loss of engine power. The solo student pilot reported that he was practicing three full stop landings at a tower-controlled airport. He taxied to the runway and completed the Before Takeoff checklist. He called tower and was cleared for takeoff for a right traffic pattern. He reported that he climbed to 2,000 feet mean sea level (msl) during a right downwind. At midfield he turned the carburetor heat on and performed the Before Landing checklist. Once he was abeam the touchdown point, he decreased the throttle and put in 10 degrees of flaps. He put in 20 degrees of flaps on base leg. He reported that while on final, he increased the throttle to gain altitude but the engine did not respond. He reported, "I verified the Carb Heat was on, Mixture was full Rich, and Fuel Selector was on." He cycled the throttle to full but the engine did not respond. He executed an engine out forced landing. Tall power lines were directly in front of the airplane so he turned to the left to avoid them. He landed the airplane in a cornfield, but the airplane's left wing struck some trees at the end of the field. The inspection of the airplane revealed no anomalies. A test run of the engine was limited to 2,000 rpm. The throttle was manipulated through the 1,500 to 2,000 rpm range and the engine ran properly. No defects were noted.
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: 48 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,892 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIE Muncie IN at 10:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,998 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:42 pm from MIE, 1 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.