# Accident 19971125040429A: Cessna 172E, Topeka, KS, November 25, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 25, 1997, 01:03 local time
- Place: Topeka, KS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0710° N, 95.6199° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0710&lon=-95.6199&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5332T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5332T-1998-07-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172E (registry code 2072412, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E
- Reported engine: CONT O300D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 225 total, 157 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98FA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971125040429A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: ON NOVEMBER 25, 1997, AT 0103 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172E, N5332T, OWNED AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A NIGHT FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT, NEAR TOPEKA, KANSAS. THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES AND BOTH PASSENGERS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE PERSONAL 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AT 2330 (NOVEMBER 24), WITH THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF SALINA, KANSAS. A SURVIVING PASSENGER STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE MADE AN UNSCHEDULED LANDING AT LAWRENCE, KANSAS DUE TO A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. HE SAID THAT AFTER AN INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, THE AIRPLANE AGAIN DEPARTED FOR SALINA. HE SAID THAT AFTER CLIMBING TO ABOUT 2,200 FEET THE AIRPLANE AGAIN EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE AND EVENTUALLY QUIT ENTIRELY. THE PILOT CONDUCTED A NIGHT FORCED LANDING, STRIKING A WIRE, PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TERRAIN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS ON FILE. (.4)DURING A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH.  THE PILOT APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE ICING.  HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING TO   CHECK THE AIRPLANE AND FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL. HE DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT USING PARTIAL CARBURETOR HEAT.  HE RESUMED THE FLIGHT AT SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH.  CARBURETOR HEAT DID NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR THE BLOCKAGE AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE SUFFERED A LOSS OF ALL POWER.  A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED AND DURING THE FINAL PHASE OF THE DESCENT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TRANSMISSION LINE AND THEN IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.  SUBSEQUENTLY EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND ENGINE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES OTHER THAN THOSE ACCOCIATED WITH THE IMPACT WITH THE WIRE AND THE TERRAIN.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98FA048), Nov 25, 1997: Cessna 172E (N5332T), Topeka, KS, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat. Contributing factors were carburetor icing conditions, dark night conditions, and the transmission wire.

## Other reports on N5332T (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19760211001529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760211001529A), Feb 11, 1976: Cessna 172E (N5332T), KS, Substantial damage

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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