ATL03LA003

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172N · Pompano Beach, FL · October 13, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 13, 2002, 14:42 local (18:42 UTC)
Place
Pompano Beach, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N6542JCessna 172N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 15, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Fort Lauderdale FSDO-17
FAA report
20021013036009A
Case key
55872

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine powerTakeoff - initial climb
Powerplant - undeterminedCause
Weather condition - carburetor icing conditions
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Terrain condition - runway
On ground/water collision with objectEmergency landing after takeoff
Object - fence

Analysis

As the airplane climbed through 90 feet, the pilot noticed a loss of engine power. The pilot elected to shut down the engine by reducing the power and mixture levers. The airplane touched down on the runway and bounced about three times. Efforts by the pilot to stop airplane on the runway surface were unsuccessful. The airplane continued off the departure end of the runway and overrun, and collided with a fence. During the post-accident engine test run, the engine developed normal takeoff power without hesitation or roughness. The post-engine inspection disclosed no oil leaks or further discrepancies. According to the pilot, there were 40 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the attempted takeoff. Review of weather data disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

Factual narrative

On October 13, 2002, at 1442 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6542J, registered to ATE of Texas Inc., and operated by American Flyers, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight collided with a fence after takeoff from Pompano Airpark, Pompano, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed from Pompano Beach, Florida, at 1440.

According to the pilot, shortly after liftoff from runway 10, and as the airplane climbed through 90 feet, the pilot noticed a loss of engine power. As the airplane started to descend, the pilot decided to land straight ahead on the remaining runway surface. The pilot elected to shut down the engine by reducing the power and mixture levers. The airplane touched down on the runway and bounced about three times. Efforts by the pilot to stop the airplane on the runway surface were unsuccessful. The airplane continued off the departure end of the runway and overrun, and collided with a fence.

The initial examination of the airplane at the accident site disclosed that the left and right wing assemblies sustained structural damage. The engine firewall was also buckled. During the post-accident engine test run, the engine developed normal takeoff power without hesitation or roughness. The post-engine inspection disclosed no oil leaks or further discrepancies.

According to the pilot, there were 40 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane at the time of the attempted takeoff. Review of weather data disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

Aircraft

Registration
N6542J
Reported as
Cessna 172N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17273887
Airframe hours
12,200
Engine
Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
American Flyers
Registered owner
ATE of Texas Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · October 12, 2002 · 0 hours before
Departed
PMP · Pompano Beach, NC
Destination
SRQ · Sarasota, FL
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
PMP · Pompano Beach Airpark, runway 10, 3,502 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
20
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
October 9, 2002
Seat
Left
Flight hours
76 total · 30 in this make and model · 5 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 77 °F
Altimeter
29.98 inHg
Observed at
PMP

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N6542J · 2

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