- Date
- June 24, 1993, 09:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place
- Statesville, NC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7817XCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930624020099A
- Case key
- 3229
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The improper use of carburetor heat by the pilot. A factor in the accident was the carburetor icing conditions.
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.
Analysis
The pilot was on a cross country flight under overcast clouds. He stated that he was forced to descend due to decreasing cloud heights. The temperature was 71(f), and the dew point was 63(f). The carburetor icing probability chart shows this combination to be in serious icing conditions at glide power. The pilot stated that he applied carburetor heat for three seconds on two separate occasions, and the engine problem became worse when power was added. An emergency landing was executed, the aircraft hit a fence during the landing, and nosed over.
Factual narrative
On June 24, 1993 at about 0920 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N7817X was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during a precautionary landing near Statesville, North Carolina. Neither the private pilot, nor his passenger were injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and a visual flight rules flight plan was in effect for the personal flight. The flight departed Siler City, North Carolina at about 0830, and was destined for Morganton, North Carolina.
The pilot stated that following a descent, the engine lost power gradually, which he attributed to carburetor icing. He applied carburetor heat for approximately 3 seconds on two separate occasions. However, he said, when the throttle was increased, the problem got worse. He elected to attempt a precautionary landing in a corn field. The aircraft struck a fence and flipped over.
The Icing Probability Chart shows at a temperature of 71 degrees fahrenheit (F) and a dew point of 63 degrees (F), serious icing conditions exist at glide power.(See Attached Chart.)
The pilot failed to complete and return NTSB Form 6120.1/2, which was delivered with cover letter on July 1, 1993.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7817X
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17248317
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Peters, Donald W.
- Registered owner
- Edward N. Liles
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 28, 1992
- Departed
- 5W8 · Siler City, NC
- Destination
- MRN · Morganton, NC
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 25
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 105 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HKY, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.