On August 23, 1994, a Mooney M-20B (registration N778R) was involved in an aviation accident near Marion, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Inadequate maintenance which resulted in the throttle cable becoming disconnected from the carburetor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
After an hour of flight with maneuvers and touch-and-go landings, engine power was lost. The pilot forced-landed in a cornfield, striking a ditch. Examination revealed the throttle cable disconnected from the carburetor.
Incident
According to the investigation, the airplane lost engine power after approximately one hour of flight. During that hour, the pilot practiced flight maneuvers and performed touch-and-go landings. The pilot reported that before the power loss, he had first reduced the airplane's speed and then attempted to accelerate. However, the engine did not respond to throttle inputs. As a result, the pilot executed a forced landing, steering the airplane into a cornfield. During the landing, the airplane encountered and struck a ditch.
Examination
After the incident, an examination of the airplane was conducted. The examination revealed that the throttle cable had become disconnected from the carburetor.