# NTSB ATL99LA094: Cessna 172E, N5363T, Millington, TN, May 20, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 1999, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Millington, TN - Coordinates: 35.330615, -89.880249 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3306&lon=-89.8802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46364 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46364/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA094 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. Factors were weather conditions favorable to carburetor ice and the terrain condition at the forced landing site. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, climb - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he departed Millington Airport on runway 4 from intersection 'C'. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 400 feet above the ground, the engine experienced a slight decrease in power of not more than 50 RPM. He checked the mixture, fuel, ignition, and carburetor heat controls and found them to be set correctly. At that point, he elected to return to runway 22. During the turn to runway 22, the engine lost power. The pilot established a glide to runway 22, but was unable to make the runway. The airplane subsequently landed 300 feet short of runway 22 in a field and rolled into a ditch, substantially damaging the airplane. According to the FAA, the pilot topped the airplane off with fuel prior to the flight. A fuel sample was taken and no evidence of contamination was found. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies. According to carburetor probability charts, the weather conditions were favorable for formation of carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 1999, at 1530 central daylight time, a Cessna 172E, N5363T, collided with the ground during a forced landing at the Millington Municipal Airport in Millington, Tennessee. 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 time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated in Millington, Tennessee, at approximately 1520. According to the pilot, he departed on runway 4 from intersection "C". Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 400 feet above the ground, the engine experienced a slight decrease in power of not more than 50 RPM. He checked the mixture, fuel, ignition, and carburetor heat controls and found them to be set correctly. At that point, he elected to return to runway 22. During the turn to runway 22, the engine lost power. The pilot established a power off glide to runway 22, but was unable to make the runway. The airplane subsequently landed 300 feet short of runway 22 in a field and rolled into a ditch, substantially damaging the airplane. According to the FAA, the pilot topped the airplane off with fuel prior to the flight. A fuel sample was taken and no evidence of contamination was found. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine contained two quarts of oil and there was no evidence of oil on the ground or on the cowling. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the engine contained an adequate quantity of oil. The original low reading was attributed to the position of the engine upon initial examination. No engine mechanical deficiencies were found. Review of weather data disclosed conditions were favorable for formation of carburetor ice. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5363T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5363T-2013-04-16), registration cancelled 2013-04-16, S/N 17251263, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172E - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17251263 - Airframe hours: 5871 - Engines: Continental O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jonathan J. Brown - Registered owner: Lawrence D. Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 1998, 180 hours before - Departed: NQA - Destination: SIK, SIKESTON, MO - Airport: NQA, Millington Muni Airport, runway 22, 8,000 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 243 total, 136 in this make and model, 152 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MKL, 50 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990520041299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990520041299A), May 20, 1999: Cessna 172E, Millington, TN, Substantial damage. (.4) According to the pilot, he departed Millington airport on runway 4 from intersection 'c'. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 400 feet… ## Other investigations on N5363T (2) 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 LAX95LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA221), Jun 23, 1995: Cessna 172 (N5363T), Yerington, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO ENTER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT AN INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO SAFELY ESCAPE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TERRAIN AND… - [NTSB OAK73DVD21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DVD21), Dec 10, 1972: Cessna 172 (N5363T), Livermore, CA, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.