Cessna 172 accident near Ft. Myers, Florida, October 24, 1982
On October 24, 1982 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N739WY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ft. Myers, Florida. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1982 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Ft. Myers, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N739WY · registry record · serial 17270876
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING HIS SOLO X-COUNTRY THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK SEVERAL TIMES ENROUTE. WHILE APPROACHING FT. MYERS HE RETARDED THE THROTTLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO ADVANCE IT AGAIN. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING. POST EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT ALL ENGINE CONTROLS WERE FREE TO MOVE & HAD FULL TRAVEL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. THE FRICTION KNOB ON THE THROTTLE WAS SCREWED COMPLETELY OUT, BUT DID NOT HAMPER FULL USE OF THE THROTTLE. THE THROTTLE CONTROL MOUNT NUT WAS SECURED TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL & WAS NOT LOOSE. HOWEVER, THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WAS HOOKED UP AT THE CARBURETOR AT THE TOP MOUNT HOLE WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE CONTROL TO HAVE ONLY ABOUT 1-5/8 IN FULL TRAVEL FROM IDLE TO FULL POWER. THIS COMPARES TO 3 IN OR BETTER ON ANY OTHER C-172 INSTALLATION. THIS WOULD CAUSE RAPID POWER CHANGES WITH ONLY SMALL CHANGES OF THROTTLE CONTROL.
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: 49 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Miami Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: Pahokee FL at 1:00 pm
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 147°F (64°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from FMY
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.