Cessna 172 accident near Lambertville, Michigan, June 17, 1994
On June 17, 1994 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N737YW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lambertville, Michigan (Toledo Surburban airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE AIRPLANE RESULTING IN A FOREIGN OBJECT IN THE INDUCTION SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1994 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lambertville, Michigan · Toledo Surburban · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N737YW · no longer on the register · serial 17269787
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot states engine operation on the maintenance test flight was normal on start-up, all preflight checks, and on takeoff. Approximately 150 feet AGL after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated an emergency landing on a field adjacent to the airport. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a loose steel lock nut in an induction intake tube.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 473 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 246 as pilot in command; 72 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,638 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1994; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lambert Aircraft, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,000 ft by 500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.