# NTSB ERA09CA171: Cessna 120, N57N, Woodstock, GA, January 12, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 12, 2009, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Woodstock, GA
- Coordinates: 34.105834, -84.448333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1058&lon=-84.4483&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73385
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73385/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA171

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power, as reported by the pilot, for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

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

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While on the base leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot states that he applied carburetor heat and reduced the engine power to idle. He reported that when he turned onto the final leg, the airplane was lower than he wanted it be and that he advanced the throttle control, but the engine did not respond. The airplane subsequently struck trees prior to the runway and then impacted the ground. Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the accident by the pilot about 1 month after the accident. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector was conducted about 6 weeks after the accident and did not reveal evidence of any preaccident malfunctions. A weather report from an airport located about 9 miles northeast of the accident site about the time of the accident indicated a temperature of 9 degrees Celsius (C) and a dew point of -7 degrees C.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing the Cessna 120, on a 2,000-foot-long, turf runway, at a private airport. While on the base leg of the traffic pattern, he applied carburetor heat and reduced the engine power to idle. The pilot reported that when he turned onto the final leg, the airplane was lower than he wanted it be and he advanced the throttle control; however, the engine did not respond. The airplane subsequently struck trees prior to the runway, and then impacted the ground. Both wings and the fuselage were substantially damaged. The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the accident by the pilot, about 1 month after the accident. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector was conducted about 6 weeks after the accident, and did not reveal evidence of any preaccident malfunctions. The weather reported at an airport located about 9 miles northeast of the accident site; about the time of the accident, included a temperature of 9 degrees Celsius C, and a dew point of -7 degrees C.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57N), registered now, S/N 11996, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11996
- Airframe hours: 5623
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kobs Edward J
- Registered owner: Kobs Edward J
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2008, 1 hours before
- Departed: CZL, Dalton, GA
- Destination: 5GA4, Woodstock, GA
- Airport: 5GA4, Air Acres, runway 18, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,650 total, 100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: RYY, 9 nm away

## Other investigations on N57N (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 ATL06CA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA017), Nov 18, 2005: Cessna 120 (N57N), Woodstock, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive braking resulted in a nose over during landing roll.

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.