# NTSB FTW01LA064: Cessna 172, N8984B, Pine Bluff, AR, January 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 6, 2001, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Pine Bluff, AR - Coordinates: 34.210319, -92.010772 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2103&lon=-92.0108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51708 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51708/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA064 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the forced landing on a gravel road. Contributing factors were the pilot's delay in using carburetor heat and the loose gravel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - carburetor heat - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was flying the airplane at 1,200 feet agl, looking at the ice damage caused by a recent storm. As the airplane was crossing plowed fields, which were surrounded by trees, the engine rpm "dropped to around 1100." The pilot "pushed the fuel mixture all the way to rich, pulled the carburetor heat control, pushed off the cabin heat and pushed the throttle all the way forward," with no increase in engine performance. A forced landing was initiated to a gravel road. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted off the left side of the road into a muddy ditch. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that the loss of engine power was due to carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On January 6, 2001, at 1130 central standard time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N8984B, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Grider Field Airport, near Pine Bluff, Arkansas, at 1110. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that they were flying at 1,200 feet agl, observing the ice damage caused by a recent storm. As they were crossing plowed fields, which were surrounded by trees, the engine rpm "dropped to around 1100." He "pushed the fuel mixture all the way to rich, pulled the carburetor heat control, pushed off the cabin heat and pushed the throttle all the way forward," with no increase in engine performance. A forced landing was initiated to a gravel road to the west. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted off the left side of the road into a muddy ditch. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the vertical stabilizer and rudder were damaged. The empennage aft of the cabin was buckled, and the left wing was structurally damaged. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, under the Mechanical Malfunction Failure section, that there was no mechanical failure and that the problem was icing of the carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8984B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8984B), registered now, S/N 36684, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - 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: 36684 - Airframe hours: 1583 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy F. Newton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PBF, Pine Bluff, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 6, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 207 total, 207 in this make and model, 189 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: lit, 44 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 20010106001689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010106001689A), Jan 6, 2001: Cessna 172, Pine Bluff, AR, No damage. (-23) On January 6, 2001 at 1140 CST, a N8984B, a Cessna model 172, registered to a private individual, nosed over in an off airport landing near Pine Bluff,… 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.