Probable cause
The separation of the throttle cable from the linkage during the approach to land and the altitude/clearance not being available to the pilot during the forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the electrical wires the airplane impacted.
NTSB analysis
On the student pilot's sixth practice landing approach, he pulled the throttle back and the engine went to full power. He pulled the mixture control out to stop the engine running at full power. He set up a best glide speed and determined that for the conditions present that the "approach would fall short of the runway." The wheels impacted electric wires and the airplane came to rest inverted. Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors examined the wreckage and found that the throttle cable end separated from the linkage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CHI08CA139 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 24, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Blue Ash, Ohio
- Nearest airport
- Cincinnati-Blue Ash Airport (ISZ)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172N
- N-number
- N75528
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.