# NTSB CHI95LA110: Cessna 172, N739FZ, Nevis, MN, February 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 5, 1995, 12:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Nevis, MN - Coordinates: 46.95922, -94.839065 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9592&lon=-94.8391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9859 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9859/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA110 ## Probable cause the loss of engine power due to a blockage caused by ice. A factor in the accident was the snow. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - fluid,fuel - ice (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER COMPLETING A TOUCH AND GO, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE AIRLANE WAS BARELY CLIMBING. HE IMMEDIATELY SCANNED THE INSTRUMENTS, CHECKED THE FUEL SELECTOR AND ALL ENGINE CONTROLS. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. REALIZING THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT TO LAND, THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING ON A FROZEN, SNOW COVERED LAKE. WHILE LANDING, THE LANDING GEAR DUG INTO THE SNOW AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. A FUEL SAMPLE WAS TAKEN ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND ICE CRYSTALS WERE FOUND IN THE SAMPLE. THE REPORTED TEMPERATURE WAS 2 DEGREES AND THE DEWPOINT WAS NEGATIVE 12. ## Factual narrative On February 5, 1995, at 1240 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N739FZ, registered to Wings Inc. of St. Paul, Minnesota, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing on a frozen lake near Park Rapids, Minnesota. The pilot had just completed a touch and go landing at Park Rapids when the power loss occurred. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 local pleasure flight originated from St. Paul at 1030. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. According to the pilot, the flight was uneventful until after he executed a touch and go landing at Park Rapids on runway 13 and the airplane was on its initial climb. The pilot stated that he was busy dialing in Brainerd VOR when he realized that the airplane was barely climbing. He immediately scanned the instruments, checked the fuel selector, and verified that the carburetor heat, the mixture control, and the throttle were in the full forward position to ensure maximum engine power. At this time, the pilot stated the airplane was maintaining level flight but the engine power was slowly decreasing. The pilot made a left turn in an attempt to return to Park Rapids, but soon realized that he would not be able to make it back to the airport. The pilot stated that he then decided to make a forced landing on a frozen, snow covered lake. As the airplane touched down, the landing gear dug into the snow, the airplane experienced a rapid deceleration, and nosed over. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies. Fuel samples were taken on the day of the accident. Ice crystals were found in the fuel sample. A surface weather observation from Park Rapids Airport was taken eight minutes after the time of the accident. The observation reported a measured ceiling of 25,000 scattered, 20 miles visibility, temperature 2 degrees, and dewpoint negative 12. The temperature and dew point spread at the time of the accident were not conducive to carburetor ice. The local area had apparently been experiencing large temperature variations within the preceding couple of days before the accident. The local temperature on the day following the accident was 40 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739FZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N739FZ), registered now, S/N 17270520, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17270520 - Airframe hours: 3956 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wings Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1994, 3,956 hours before - Departed: PKD, PARK RAPIDS, MN - Destination: STP, ST. PAUL, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 200 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 1 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PKD, 4 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 19950205010029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950205010029A), Feb 5, 1995: Cessna 172N, Park Rapids, MN, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Landed in deep snow on frozen lake. Ice crystals in fuel caused fuel starvation. (-23) airman departed stp planning a round robin… ## Other investigations on N739FZ (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 DEN83LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA016), Nov 10, 1982: Cessna 172 (N739FZ), Beulah, ND, 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.