Cessna 172 accident near Carlyle, Illinois, December 11, 1991
On December 11, 1991 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8316X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlyle, Illinois (Zachry airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL CONTAMINATION AND BLOCKAGE OF THE CARBURETOR, WHICH RESTULED IN FUEL STARVATION. THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) WERE A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1991 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carlyle, Illinois · Zachry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8316X · no longer on the register · serial 17248816
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND INITIAL CLIMB FROM A 2300 FOOT GRASS STRIP, THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO LOSE POWER AND A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB WAS NOT ESTABLISHED. IN ORDER TO AVOID ONCOMING TREES, THE PILOT STARTED A LEFT TURN. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A FARM FIELD. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED SIGNIFICANT CONTAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR AND GASCOLATOR WITH SEDIMENT AND RUST.
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: 75 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 2H0 Shelbyville IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:45 pm from CVM, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.