KELLYVILLE, OK, USA
N54736
CESSNA 172P
THE PILOT HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FOR A PIPELINE PATROL, AND WAS MANEUVERING NEAR THE AIRSTRIP. WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE SOUND DECREASE IN VOLUME. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT 'THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING AT HALF POWER.' PILOT PASSED UP OPPORTUNITY TO LAND IN CLEAR FIELD APPROXIMATELY ONE-QUARTER MILE WEST OF AIRSTRIP, AND STALLED THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTING TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE AIRSTRIP. AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES AT FIELD BOUNDARY AND CRASHED ONTO AIRSTRIP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE THROTTLE HANDLE. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED TWICE, AND HAD ACCUMULATED 7218 HOURS OPERATING TIME. NO RECORD OF THROTTLE CONTROL REPLACEMENT COULD BE FOUND. MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE MANUAL RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT EVERY 1500 HOURS.
AN INADVERTENT STALL AND MISJUDGEMENT OF AN EMERGENCY PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT IN TRYING TO STRETCH THE FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRSTRIP.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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