Cessna 172M accident near Saipan, Cq, November 26, 1991
On November 26, 1991 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N733PB, was destroyed in an accident near Saipan. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CORRECTLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1991 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Saipan, CQ
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N733PB · no longer on the register · serial 17218433
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE 100 HOUR STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING AIRWORK IN PREPARATION FOR HIS PRIVATE PILOT FLIGHT TEST WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE OPERATOR SAID THE PILOT TOLD THEM HE WAS PRACTICING SLOW FLIGHT MANEUVERS AND THE ENGINE FALTERED WHEN HE ADDED POWER TO EXIT THE MANEUVER. THE PILOT FIRST DECIDED TO LAND ON A NEARBY GOLF COURSE, HOWEVER, HE OBSERVED MANY PEOPLE ON THE FAIRWAYS AND ELECTED TO LAND ON NEARBY BEACH. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH ROCKS AND THE GROUND DURING THE LANDING FLARE. THE OFFICIAL SAIPAN WEATHER OBSERVATION FOR THE ACCIDENT TIME LISTS A TEMPERATURE OF 80 DEGREES AND A DEW POINT OF 74 DEGREES. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART REVEALS THAT THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT ARE IN AN AREA DEFINED AS 'SERIOUS ICING GLIDE POWER.'
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: 75 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,759 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 1991; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pacific Island Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: GSN Saipan OF at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from GSN, 10 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.