Cessna 182H accident near Howell, Michigan, November 23, 1989
On November 23, 1989 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N819CM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Howell, Michigan. 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
FAILURE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL CABLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION DURING A CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: ROUGH TERRAIN 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
- November 23, 1989 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Howell, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N819CM · no longer on the register · serial 18256611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, HE NOTED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. HE FOLLOWED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. DURING A FORCED LANDING ON ROUGH TERRAIN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE MIXTURE CONTROL CABLE HAD FAILED WITHIN ITS SHEATH, WHICH ALLOWED THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO MOVE TOWARD THE IDLE-CUTOFF POSITION. THE 1965 MODEL ACFT HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 1962 HRS. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 276 HRS SINCE THE LAST MAJOR OVERHAUL.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 289 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,962 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1989; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3HE Howell MI at 3:05 pm
- Destination: 65G Fowlerville MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from FNT, 23 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.