Cessna 140 accident near Frankenmuth, Michigan, October 24, 1993
On October 24, 1993 at about 9:14 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N73003, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frankenmuth, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SIMILARITY OF SHAPE, SIZE, AND COLOR OF THE MIXTURE AND CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROLS AND THE TERRAIN CONDITION (WITH CROP) 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
- October 24, 1993 · about 9:14 pm local time
- Place
- Frankenmuth, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N73003 · registry record · serial 10208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED LOSS OF POWER. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A CROP FIELD, WHERE THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE MAY HAVE ACTIVATED THE MIXTURE INSTEAD OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE CONTROL KNOBS FOR THE MIXTURE AND CARBURETOR HEAT WERE THE SAME SHAPE, SIZE, AND COLOR.
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: 135 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1993; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 66G at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 78D Caro MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from MBS, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.