# Accident 19990326022429A: Cessna 172, Florala, AL, March 26, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 26, 1999, 15:30 local time
- Place: Florala, AL
- Airport: Florala Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.0206° N, 86.2997° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0206&lon=-86.2997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8968B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8968B-2002-04-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172 (registry code 2072402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Reported engine: CONT O300A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,526 total, 1,041 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA059) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990326022429A

## Narrative

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

(.4) ON MARCH 26, 1999, ABOUT 1530 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172, N8968B, COLLIDED WITH TREES WHILE MANEUVERING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT FLORALA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, IN FLORALA, ALABAMA.  THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PERSONAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM FLORALA, ALABAMA AT 1527.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN PARKED ON THE RAMP FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND IT HAD RAINED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.  DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE PILOT STATED HE HAD TAKEN FUEL SAMPLES FROM BOTH FUEL TANKS AND FOUND NO WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINATION.  AFTER THE PREFLIGHT EXAMINATION, THE FLIGHT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 04.  THE PILOT TURNED DOWNWIND, AND HAD STARTED A TURN TO LEFT BASE WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND SPUTTERED.  THE PILOT ACTIVATED THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND SWITCHED FUEL TANKS BEFORE RETURNING THE FUEL SELECTOR TO BOTH.  THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER.  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO RUNWAY 04, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDE D WITH TREES APPROX. 50 FEET SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED THAT A QUANTITY OF WATER WAS IN THE FUEL TANKS.  THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT OR EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER UNTIL HE STARTED A LEFT DESCENDING TURN FOR THE BASE LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.

## 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 ATL99LA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA059), Mar 26, 1999: Cessna 172 (N8968B), Florala, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION WITH WATER.

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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