# NTSB FTW03LA056: Cessna 172M, N4470R, Vici, OK, December 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 2002, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Vici, OK - Coordinates: 36.141666, -99.303054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1417&lon=-99.3031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 56155 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56155/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot's departure and continued flight into adverse weather conditions. Contributing factors were the icing conditions, and the lack of suitable terrain for the precautionary landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The non-instrument rated private pilot reported that the flight departed with the weather conditions "light to moderate snow and 5-7 miles visibility." Subsequently, en route the ice accumulated throughout the airframe and he performed an unscheduled landing to remove the ice. After partially removing the ice and checking the weather on the computer, he departed the airport and continued the flight toward the planned destination. Subsequently, in cruise flight, he noted an indicated airspeed of 115 mph, and the flight encountered freezing rain and structural icing, and the indicated airspeed decayed to 80 mph. He decreased the pitch of the airplane to maintain the airspeed at 80 mph and diverted the flight to the nearest airport; however, the airplane was unable to maintain 80 mph, and he elected to perform a precautionary landing to an open field short of the airport. During the landing roll in rough and uneven terrain, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed-over coming to rest in the inverted position. The nearest weather reporting station, located 30.4 nautical miles east southeast (103 degrees) of the accident site was reporting calm winds, visibility 4 statute miles with freezing rain and haze, few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken ceiling at 1,500 feet, and overcast at 2,800 feet. The temperature was 28 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dew point was 27 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Factual narrative On December 3, 2002, at 1345 central standard time, a Cessna 172M single-engine airplane, N4470R, was substantially damaged when the airplane nosed over during a precautionary landing to an open field near Vici, Oklahoma. The non-instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. A weather briefing was received and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from Liberal, Kansas, at approximately 1200. The flight's destination was the Wiley Post International Airport, near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The pilot, who had accumulated 99 hours of flight time, reported that the flight departed Liberal, Kansas, with the weather conditions "light to moderate snow and 5-7 miles visibility." Subsequently, the ice accumulated throughout the airframe and the pilot performed an unscheduled landing at Woodward, Oklahoma (WWR) to remove the ice. After the pilot partially removed the ice and obtained an update on the weather conditions via the computer, the flight departed Woodward for Oklahoma City. During cruise flight, the pilot noted an indicated airspeed of 115 mph and the flight encountered freezing rain and structural ice which continued to accumulate. Within the next 20 miles, the pilot observed the indicated airspeed decrease to 100, then 90, and finally 80 mph. The pilot reported that he decreased the pitch of the airplane to maintain the airspeed at 80 mph and diverted the flight to the Vici Municipal Airport; however, the airplane was unable to maintain 80 mph, and the pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing to an open field short of the airport. During the landing roll in rough and uneven terrain, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed-over coming to rest in the inverted position. The engine firewall sustained structural damage, a propeller blade was bent, and the top portion of the vertical stabilizer was crushed. Gage, Oklahoma (GAG), located 30.4 nautical miles east southeast (103 degrees) of the accident site was the nearest weather reporting station to the accident site. About the time of the accident, GAG was reporting calm winds, visibility 4 statute miles with freezing rain and haze, few clouds at 1,000 feet, a broken ceiling at 1,500 feet, and overcast at 2,800 feet. The temperature was 28 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 27 degrees Fahrenheit, with an altimeter setting of 30.23 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4470R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4470R-2012-11-29), registration cancelled 2012-11-29, S/N 17263212, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172-63212 - Airframe hours: 3772 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles H. Smith - Registered owner: GEMC Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: LBL, Liberal, KS - Destination: PWA, Oklahoma City, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 25, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 99 total, 44 in this make and model, 48 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: GAG, 30 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 20021203031899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021203031899A), Dec 3, 2002: Cessna 172M, Vici, OK, Substantial damage. (-23) Ice began to form on the aircraft while in flight. So much ice built up that the aircraft would no longer hold altitude. While attempting an off airport… 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.