Cessna 172D accident near Isla Grande, Puerto Rico, April 28, 1990
On April 28, 1990 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2670U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Isla Grande, Puerto Rico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN CARBURETOR ICE. THE WEATHER (CARBURETOR ICING CONDITION) WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 1990 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Isla Grande, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2670U · no longer on the register · serial 17250270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 4500 FT MSL, THE PILOT REDUCED THE THOTTLE SETTING TO IDLE FOR AN EXTENDED DESCENT, AND DID NOT APPLY SUFFICIENT CARBURETOR HEAT. THE ENGINE LOST POWER ABOUT 3 MIN LATER, AND THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. THE CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 243 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 183 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-350-C2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TNCM St Maarten OF at 1:00 pm
- Destination: TJIG Isla Grande PR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 115° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from SJU, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.