# NTSB LAX86LA129: Cessna 172M, N61572, Springerville, AZ, February 27, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1986, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Springerville, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.040107, -109.200813 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0401&lon=-109.2008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25083
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA129
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25083/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA129

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A CESSNA 172M EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN ON LANDING. THE PILOT INDICATED HE WAS CRUISING AT 9500 FEET MSL (1500 TO 2000 FEET AGL) WITH AN OAT OF 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE CARB HEAT HANDLE WAS IN THE 'OFF' POSITION WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE THEN PULLED THE CARB HEAT HANDLE OUT (ON) AND THE ENGINE RAN ROUGHER. THE CARB HEAT WAS PUSHED IN (OFF) AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGH AND EVENTUALLY QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED IN CONDITIONS PREVALENT TO FUEL VAPORIZATION ICE IN THE INDUCTION SYSTEM. A WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITY LOCATED 45NM TO THE NW REPORTED A TEMPERATURE-DEWPOINT SPREAD OF 25 DEGREES WHICH RELATES TO A RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF APPROXIMATELY 40% AND IN THE POTENTIAL AREA FOR CARB ICE. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL STATES, 'TO CLEAR THE ICE, APPLY FULL THROTTLE AND PULL THE CARB HEAT KNOB FULL OUT UNTIL THE ENGINE RUNS SMOOTHLY; AND THEN REMOVE CARB HEAT AND READJUST THE THROTTLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61572](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61572-1988-09-26), registration cancelled 1988-09-26, S/N 17264649 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17264649
- Airframe hours: 3789
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Arizona Flyers Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 14, 1986, 21 hours before
- Departed: TUS, TUCSON, AZ
- Destination: Q35, SPRINGERVILLE, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Q35, Springerville

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 329 total, 175 in this make and model, 280 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SOW, 45 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 19860227003969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860227003969A), Feb 27, 1986: Cessna 172M, Springerville, AZ, Substantial damage. Loss of power and engine roughness en route. Improper use of carburetor heat. Engine quit. Flipped over on landing.

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.

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