Cessna 172M accident near Wixom, Michigan, July 27, 1989
On July 27, 1989 at about 2:40 am local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N12662, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wixom, Michigan (Spencer Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CARBURETOR ICE DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WEATHER CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICE, DARK NIGHT, AND TREE(S) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1989 · about 2:40 am local time
- Place
- Wixom, Michigan · Spencer Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N12662 · no longer on the register · serial 17262157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND DURING A NIGHT VISUAL APPROACH AND EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AS HE WAS MAKING A FORCED LANDING IN A CULTIVATED FIELD NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE, THEN LANDED HARD. NO CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY IN A POST-ACCIDENT TEST. CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICING. THE PILOT DID NOT GET A WEATHER BRIEFING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 275 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,769 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1989; 10 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: PTK Pontiac MI at 2:20 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,550 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from PTK, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.