Cessna 172M accident near Nashua, New Hampshire, February 2, 1991
On February 2, 1991 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13341, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashua, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION BY OTHER PERSONNEL WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE AND A SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1991 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nashua, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13341 · no longer on the register · serial L36170-279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172 WAS AT 1500 FEET ALTITUDE JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A GRAVEL PIT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED A 'JELL TYPE SUBSTANCE COMPLETELY FILLING THE ACCELERATOR PUMP HOUSING.' IT WAS REPORTED AN UNKNOWN PERSON PUT AUTOMOBILE DRY GAS INTO THE FUEL TANKS THE DAY BEFORE THE FLIGHT. INVESTIGATORS WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE A SUBSTANCE IDENTICAL TO THE ONE FOUND, BY MIXING DRY GAS, AVIATION FUEL AND WATER AND THEN FREEZING THE MIXTURE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE STARTED USING NORMAL PROCEDURES. THE PRIMER HAD TO BE USED REPEATEDLY, AND EVEN THEN THE ENGINE RAN ROUGHLY.
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: 207 hours in all; 207 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASH Nashua NH at 2:30 pm
- Destination: BAF Westfield NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 165° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.