# NTSB DFW07CA070: Cessna 172B, N2629U, Stephenville, TX, February 15, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 15, 2007, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Stephenville, TX - Coordinates: 32.2152777777778, -98.1777777777778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2153&lon=-98.1778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Worth, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 65307 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65307/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA070 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during the landing approach due to the pilot's failure to follow the appropriate procedures to preclude carburetor ice in known carburetor icing conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - procedures/directives - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The private pilot reported a loss of engine power when he reduced power during the landing approach. He was unable to restart the engine, and realized he would not be able to glide to the airport. He made a forced landing in a field, but collided with trees prior to landing. The airplane's right wing separated from the fuselage, and the airplane came to rest inverted. In the pilot's report to the NTSB, he checked the block "Was there mechanical malfunction/failure?" as "Unknown." In the recommendations section of the report, he wrote: "I believe I had carb ice-I think if I would not have reduced power to idle this would have prevented the accident." The temperature and dew point in the vicinity of the accident site were 28F and 19F, respectively. An icing probability chart indicates that this combination is likely to produce moderate carburetor icing at idle power. ## Factual narrative The airplane collided with trees during a forced landing to a pasture following a reported loss of engine power while on a visual approach to the destination airport. The 241-hour private pilot reported in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report) that following a 10-minute flight covering 12-nautical miles to his destination airport; he turned onto the final approach course and pulled back the throttle to idle power in order to lose altitude. Upon retarding the throttle, the engine lost power; however, the pilot was able to attempt two restarts without success. At this point, the pilot realized he would not be able to make it to the airport and executed a 180-degree turn toward a nearby small pasture. The single-engine airplane was not able to clear the mature trees at the edge of the pasture and the airplane impacted the trees approximately 2 miles south of the airport. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position with the right wing and right cabin door separated from the aircraft. There was no post crash fire and the pilot was able to exit the airplane through the left cabin door sustaining minor injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that responded to the accident site noted that there was no water present in the fuel lines and that both fuel tanks were empty on inspection. The pilot reported that during his preflight inspection, he measured the fuel on each fuel cell and estimated to have approximately 4 gallons in each tank. In the recommendation block of the completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot attributes the loss of engine power to carburetor ice. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as winds from 340 degrees at 9 knots, 7 statute miles visibility, broken clouds at 1,900 feet above ground level, and a temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2629U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2629U-2007-09-28), registration cancelled 2007-09-28, S/N 17250229, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172B - Registry model: [Cessna 172D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (registry code 2072410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17250229 - Airframe hours: 2933 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David E. Earley Jr. - Registered owner: David E. Earley Sr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2006 - Departed: 9F0, Dublin, TX - Destination: SEP, Stephenville, TX - Airport: KSEP, Clark Field Municipal, runway 32, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 241 total, 150 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 28 °F - Observed at: KSEP, 2 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 20070215001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070215001269A), Feb 15, 2007: Cessna 172D, Stephenville, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On February 15, 2007 at 1144AM (CST) a CE-172, N2629U, owned and operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted] crashed during final approach to… 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.