Cessna 172A accident near Dos Palos, California, January 2, 2000
On January 2, 2000 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172A, registered N7249T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dos Palos, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of maintenance personnel to properly install and safety the throttle arm to the carburetor throttle shaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 2000 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dos Palos, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172A · all 172As on the register
- Registration
- N7249T · no longer on the register · serial 46849
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route to the practice area, the student pilot performed several practice turns. She noted a loss of altitude, added throttle to regain altitude, but did not receive corresponding power indication. She checked the fuel selector to make sure it was in the on position, and then checked the engine gages. No discrepancies were noted. Carburetor heat was applied with no response and the rpm's continued to drop. She crosschecked the engine instruments, and reapplied carburetor heat with no change. With the rpm's continuing to drop, she made an emergency landing in a plowed dirt field. The engine was inspected, and it was noted that the retaining nut that attaches the serrated throttle lever to the serrated throttle shaft of the carburetor was loose, and the cotter pin was missing. The serrated portion of the throttle lever was unable to properly engage with the serrated stop of the throttle shaft. The carburetor had been replaced during the annual inspection on June 6, 1999, to comply with Airworthiness Directives. No further discrepancies were noted.
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: 64 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,177 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1999; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCE Merced CA at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 131°F (55°C), dew point 86°F (30°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from MCE, 21 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.
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.