Cessna 172N accident near Porter, Texas, October 31, 2002
On October 31, 2002 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N1317E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Porter, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2002 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Porter, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1317E · registry record · serial 17270952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CFI was giving a private pilot a biennial flight review. The private pilot demonstrated a short field takeoff, and while climbing through 500 feet agl, the flight instructor simulated an engine failure. According to the private pilot, he accomplished the restart procedures and at completion of the maneuver he went to advance the throttle; however, realized that the throttle was already at the full power position (full in), and that the mixture control was retarded. (The CFI stated that he retarded the throttle control to the idle position when he simulated the engine failure.) The private pilot then advanced the mixture control and the engine lost total power. The private pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, was unsuccessful. A forced landing was executed to a field 3/4 mile from the departure airport, during which the airplane contacted power lines, and subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 872 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 760 as pilot in command; 206 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 31, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 209 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 153 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 3, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,526.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9X1 Porter TX at 10:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 13,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from IAH, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW03LA040.