# NTSB CEN24LA168: Cessna 172M, N12805, Clearbrook, MN, April 29, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 29, 2024, 00:27 local (05:27 UTC)
- Place: Clearbrook, MN
- Coordinates: 47.69801, -95.43175 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6980&lon=-95.4317&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-IFR initial approach: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Lycoming Engines, FAA FSDO
- SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194174
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194174/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194174
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA168

## Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat which resulted in the loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-IFR initial approach: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he had just been cleared to fly the GPS approach in night instrument meteorological conditions when the engine rpm decreased. The pilot turned on the carburetor heat, enrichened the fuel mixture, and advanced the throttle forward in order to troubleshoot the loss of engine power; however, there was no change in the engine operations. The pilot did not recall the accident sequence. Security video footage showed that the airplane touched down on the top of a one-story building, then impacted a retaining wall and the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts and forward fuselage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The investigators determined that there should have been adequate fuel to complete the flight. The temperature was about 37° F and the dew point was about 35° F. According to the carburetor icing probability graph conditions were conducive for serious icing at cruise power. The loss of engine power was likely due to the accumulation of carburetor icing during the flight. While the pilot did activate the carburetor heat, it is likely that the ice had already accumulated to a point that the carburetor heat was insufficient to melt the ice and restore full engine power.

## Factual narrative

On April 29, 2024, about 0027 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M airplane, N12805, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Clearbrook, Minnesota. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed Stanley Municipal Airport (08D), Stanley, North Dakota, about 2132 on an instrument flight rules flight to return to Bemidji Regional Airport (BJI), Bemidji, Minnesota. The pilot was cleared by air traffic control for the GPS 13 approach to BJI. Shortly after the clearance for the approach, the engine rpm decreased “as if the key was shut off.” The pilot turned on the carburetor heat; however, there was no change in the engine operations. The pilot enrichened the fuel mixture and advanced the throttle forward; however, there was no change in the engine operations. The pilot was in night instrument meteorological conditions and chose to focus on flying the airplane. During the descent, he turned the airplane toward the town of Clearbrook but did not recall anything after that. Security video footage showed that the airplane touched down on the top of a one-story building and then impacted a retaining wall and the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts and forward fuselage. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A representative of the aircraft owner believed the airplane initially departed BJI with full fuel tanks and that the pilot added 16 gallons of fuel at 08D before the accident flight. The temperature was about 37° F and the dew point was about 35° F. According to the carburetor icing probability graph contained in Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, conditions were conducive for serious icing at cruise power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12805](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12805), registered now, S/N 17262275, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17262275
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 12815
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bemidji Aviation Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 2024
- Departed: 08D, Stanley, ND
- Destination: BJI, Bemidji, MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 67 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 90° at 11 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: KFSE, 15 nm away
- METAR: KFSE 290535Z AUTO 09011G14KT 7SM -RA BKN016 OVC022 03/02 A2986 RMK AO2

## 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 20240429006149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240429006149A), Apr 29, 2024: Cessna 172M, Clearbrook, MN, Substantial damage. Aircraft substantially damaged and pilot seriously injured when approximately 3 hours, 325 miles in to a 350 mile IFR cross country flight the engine lost…

## Docket (10 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194174. 31.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19523671&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN24LA168_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19523991&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statement%20N12805_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Security camera summary (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19524658&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Security%20Camera-Rel.pdf
- Accident report photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19526489&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Engine examination summary statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19524327&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Engine maintenance records excerpt (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 20.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19524648&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20N12805%20Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Meteorology factual report (item 7, PDF, 26 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18376262&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA168%20-%20Clearbrook,%20MN%20WX%20Factual-Rel.pdf
- Attachment 1 - foreflight route briefing (item 8, PDF, 19 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18375848&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Attachment%201%20-%20ForeFlight%20Route%20Briefing-Rel.pdf
- Carburetor icing chart (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 307 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19523707&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19523727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N12805%20LYC%20Certification%20of%20Party%20Representative_Redacted-Rel.pdf

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.

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