# NTSB FTW96LA033: Cessna 172, N6364E, Oklahoma City, OK, November 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 1995, 17:33 local (23:33 UTC) - Place: Oklahoma City, OK - Coordinates: 35.449295, -97.570182 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4493&lon=-97.5702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 7, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19700 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19700/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA033 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to use carburetor heat resulting in loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The student pilot took off, with full fuel in the left tank and 1/4 fuel in the right tank, to practice touch-and-go landings at a nearby airport. He was returning to Will Rogers World Airport approximately 1 hour later when the engine 'quit' approximately 5 miles west of the destination. He reports that he flew the whole flight with the fuel selector on the left fuel tank. He restarted the engine, but it 'quit' again about 1 mile west of runway 35L. The pilot further stated that he never used carburetor heat. During the landing roll in a field, the airplane hit a 'small gully,' nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position. According to the carburetor icing probability chart the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor ice. Additionally, the engine was test run and found to have no mechanical anomalies. Repeated attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report of the accident from the student pilot were unsuccessful. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 1995, at 1733 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N6364E, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91 was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a power loss near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from Will Rogers World Airport approximately 1 hour before the accident. No flight plan was filed. During a personal interview, conducted by an FAA inspector, the pilot reported that he left Will Rogers World Airport with a fully fueled left tank and a 1/4 fueled right tank and flew to Clarence E. Page Municipal Airport to practice touch-and-go landings. He was returning to Will Rogers World Airport when the engine "quit" approximately 5 miles west of the destination. He stated that he flew the entire flight with the fuel selector on the left tank. He restarted the engine, but it "quit" again about 1 mile west of runway 35L at Will Rogers World Airport. The pilot further stated that he never used carburetor heat. During the landing roll in a field, the airplane hit a "small gully," nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position. Evaluation of the weather, at the time of the accident, revealed a temperature of 39 degrees and dew point of 27 degrees. The enclosed icing probability curve chart indicates that this float type carbureted engine was being operated in a region of serious carburetor icing conditions. Additionally, on November 8, 1995, the airplane's engine was test run and found to have no mechanical anomalies. See attached manufacture's report. Repeated attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, from the student pilot were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6364E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6364E-1997-11-26), registration cancelled 1997-11-26, S/N 46464 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46464 - Airframe hours: 2530 - Engines: Continental O-300-A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tracy L. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 3, 1995, 3 hours before - Departed: OKC, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 17 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OKC, 3 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 19951102037249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951102037249A), Nov 2, 1995: Cessna 172, Oklahoma City, OK, Substantial damage. Lost power returning to base airport. Struck ditch landing in field and nosed over. Serious carb icing conditions. ## Other investigations on N6364E (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 FTW66F0493](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66F0493), Jan 31, 1966: Cessna 172 (N6364E), Amarillo, TX, substantial damage 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.