# NTSB CHI95LA311: Cessna 175, N9425B, Staples, MN, September 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 1995, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Staples, MN - Coordinates: 46.359676, -94.800476 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3597&lon=-94.8005&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10022 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10022/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA311 ## Probable cause the pilot's delay in the application of carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor ice, loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing in a swampy area. The carburetor icing (weather) condition was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - carburetor heat - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE WAS FLYING HIS AIRPLANE ABOUT 1,000 FEET ABOVE A SWAMP, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, WHEN HE NOTED AN AUDIBLE INDICATION OF THE POWER LOSS. DURING A FORCED IN THE SWAMP, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN WATER THAT WAS TWO FEET DEEP. THE CARBURETOR SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE DURING THE OCCURRENCE, BUT NO PREACCIDENT/MECHANICAL ANOMALY WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PRODUCTION OF POWER. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 83 AND 66 DEGREES F, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICING. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 1995, at 1045 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 175, N9425B, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a swamp. The pilot reported a total loss of power during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. A second passenger reported minor injuries. The flight departed a restricted landing area near Staples, Minnesota, at 1035 cdt. According to the pilot's statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2, "...the engine lost RPM and stopped, I checked all my gauges and found no problem... ." He said the airplane was flying over a swamp at 1,000 feet above the ground. After calling a "mayday" over the radio the pilot said he headed the airplane toward a green field. Soon after doing so he realized it was too far away and ended up landing in the swamp. The airplane nosed over during the landing sequence. It was resting in about two feet of water when the passengers and pilot exited the airplane. During an interview the pilot said the airplane had its fuel tanks topped off before the flight. He said he did not observe any water in the fuel samples taken during the preflight inspection. The pilot said the airplane's engine "fluttered" one time and then promptly quit. He said he applied full carburetor heat when he heard the flutter sound. He said the engine may have stopped running due to carburetor ice. The NTSB was represented on-scene by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI). The on-scene examination revealed fuel in N9425B's fuel tanks and engine mechanical continuity. The PMI said the magnetos were examined and sparked when hand rotated. The carburetor had separated from the engine during the collision sequence. Fuel was found in the accelerator pump chamber. No water was observed in the chamber's fuel. According FAA carburetor icing probability charts, the atmospheric conditions were conducive to carburetor icing. Copies of two charts are appended to this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9425B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9425B), registered now, S/N 55225, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175 - Registry model: [Cessna 175](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175) (registry code 2072502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 55225 - Airframe hours: 2771 - Engines: Continental GO-300-A 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerol Madison - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1994 - Departed: RLA, LINCOLN, MN - Destination: SAZ, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 167 total, 100 in this make and model, 101 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BRD, 27 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 19950903027829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950903027829A), Sep 3, 1995: Cessna 175, Staples, MN, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed in a swamp. Broke off nose gear and nosed over into water. Unable to determine cause power loss. (-23) on 09-03-95 at 1100, N9425B, piloted… ## Other investigations on N9425B (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 CHI68D0297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68D0297), Aug 9, 1967: Cessna 175 (N9425B), Casey, IL, 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.