Cessna 172N accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, November 15, 1993
On November 15, 1993 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N4829E, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWER LOSS DUE TO THROTTLE LINKAGE DISCONNECT. FACTORS WERE MISSING COTTER KEY, IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 1993 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4829E · registry record · serial 17271668
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AFTER A TOTAL POWER LOSS SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE COTTER PIN THAT FITTED INTO THE LOCKING NUT ON THE THROTTLE LEVER WAS MISSING. THE THROTTLE LEVER SERRATED SURFACES WERE NOT MESHED AND WERE RIDING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. THE THROTTLE VALVE WAS CLOSED BECAUSE THE THROTTLE OPENING SPRING, DESIGNED TO FULLY OPEN THE THROTTLE IN CASE OF THROTTLE LEVER OR CABLE SEPARATION, WAS BROKEN. THREE DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE THROTTLE SHAFT WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED FOR WEAR. THE MECHANIC SAID HE WAS 'ALMOST SURE' HE INSERTED THE COTTER PIN WHEN HE REINSTALLED THE CARBURETOR. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED.
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: student
- Flight time: 29 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,149 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 28, 1993; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from FNL, 6 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.
Other NTSB records under N4829E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.