Cessna 172P accident near Gardner, Massachusetts, August 18, 1989
On August 18, 1989 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N65105, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gardner, Massachusetts (Gardner airport). 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
THE WORN THROTTLE ARM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1989 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gardner, Massachusetts · Gardner
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N65105 · registry record · serial 17275685
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL RUN-UP BEFORE TAKING OFF & NOTED NO PROBLEMS. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING & THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE ARM WAS WORN, WHICH ALLOWED THE THROTTLE CABLE TO SLIP WITHOUT THROTTLE MOVEMENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 565 as pilot in command; 340 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,057 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1989; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FIT Fitchburg MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.