# NTSB ERA15CA327: Cessna 172, N8952B, Riviera Beach, FL, August 22, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 22, 2015, 18:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Riviera Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.804166, -80.033058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8042&lon=-80.0331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91872 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA327 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91872/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91872 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA327 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat prior to descending in atmospheric conditions conducive to icing, which resulted in a total loss of power. ## 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 equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis After descending to 400 feet above mean sea level along a beach on the return leg of a cross country flight, the pilot attempted to increase power to level off but, the engine would not respond. The pilot then checked to make sure the fuel valve was on "BOTH," and the primer was in and locked. He then attempted to restart the engine. The engine however, would not restart. The pilot determined that the beach was the best and safest place to land, so he extended the wing flaps to the full down position, and landed on the beach. During the landing, the nose landing gear dug into the sand, and collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that it was substantially damaged and approximately 12 gallons of fuel was still on board. Further examination revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failure or malfunctions of the engine that would have precluded normal operation. After the wreckage was recovered the engine was started and run at full power. Review of a carburetor icing chart revealed that atmospheric conditions around the time of the accident were conducive to icing at glide and cruise power. When asked if he had used carburetor heat during his descent prior to the loss of engine power, the pilot advised that he had not used it. ## Factual narrative After descending to 400 feet above mean sea level along a beach on the return leg of a cross country flight, the pilot attempted to increase power to level off but, the engine would not respond. The pilot then checked to make sure the fuel valve was on "BOTH," and the primer was in and locked. He then attempted to restart the engine. The engine however, would not restart. The pilot determined that the beach was the best and safest place to land, so he extended the wing flaps to the full down position, and landed on the beach. During the landing, the nose landing gear dug into the sand, and collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that it was substantially damaged and approximately 12 gallons of fuel was still on board. Further examination revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failure or malfunctions of the engine that would have precluded normal operation. After the wreckage was recovered the engine was started and run at full power. Review of a carburetor icing chart revealed that atmospheric conditions around the time of the accident were conducive to icing at glide and cruise power. When asked if he had used carburetor heat during his descent prior to the loss of engine power, the pilot advised that he had not used it. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8952B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8952B-2019-03-01), registration cancelled 2019-03-01, S/N 36652, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36652 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 3055.92 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Skywalker Aviation - Registered owner: Holmes Aviation of Palm Beach LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 20, 2015 - Departed: PHK, PAHOKEE, FL - Destination: LNA, WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 25, 2010; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 106 total, 87 in this make and model, 55 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PBI, 7 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 20150822014799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150822014799A), Aug 22, 2015: Cessna 172, Rivera Beach, FL, Substantial damage. On August 22, 2015, at about 18:55 eastern daylight savings time, aircraft was traveling south on a 14 CFR 91 (aircraft was rented) flight was returning to… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91872. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 984 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statements and Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435164&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20and%20Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF - Satellite Image of Accident Location (item 3, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435165&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Satellite%20Image%20of%20Accident%20Location-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Wreckage Recovery and Engine Run (item 4, .PDF, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Wreckage%20Recovery%20and%20Engine%20Run-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records - KPBI METARs and TAFs (item 5, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20KPBI%20METARs%20and%20TAFs-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Chart (item 6, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435168&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF - Photos (item 7, .PDF, 3 photos, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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. --- 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.