On January 19, 1989, a Cessna 172 (registration N8774B) was involved in an aviation accident near Williamsburg, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A defective fuel strainer gasket that caused the engine to run lean, resulting in a loss of power during initial climb. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Aircraft lost power during initial climb after a normal runup. The pilot attempted to maintain RPM by pumping the throttle but could not sustain altitude, resulting in a ditching approximately half a mile from the runway.
What happened
The pilot completed a normal engine runup before initiating takeoff. During the initial climb phase, the aircraft began losing power. The pilot attempted to compensate for the loss by pumping the throttle to maintain power output; however, it was not possible to sustain the required climb RPM. Consequently, the aircraft was ditched in approximately 8 feet of water, located roughly half a mile from the runway.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage disclosed that the fuel strainer gasket was defective. This defect caused the engine to run lean, leading to the loss of power during the critical climb phase.
Probable cause
A defective fuel strainer gasket that caused the engine to run lean, resulting in a loss of power during initial climb.
What happened in the 19 Jan 1989 Cessna 172 accident near Williamsburg, OH?
Aircraft lost power during initial climb after a normal runup. The pilot attempted to maintain RPM by pumping the throttle but could not sustain altitude, resulting in a ditching approximately half a mile from the runway.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 19 Jan 1989 involved a Cessna 172, registration N8774B, at Williamsburg, OH.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
A defective fuel strainer gasket that caused the engine to run lean, resulting in a loss of power during initial climb.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…