# NTSB MIA90LA154: Cessna 152, N67516, Lakeland, FL, July 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1990, 09:42 local (13:42 UTC)
- Place: Lakeland, FL
- Coordinates: 27.980791, -82.009757 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9808&lon=-82.0098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32681
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90LA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32681/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA154

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE FLT APPROACHED FROM THE NORTH ON THE BASE LEG TO RWY 9 WHEN THE STUDENT PLT STATED HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT & MIXTURE RICH. THE FLT TURNED FINAL & AFTER ADDING POWER, THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO TREES SHORT OF THE RWY THEN DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. THE ENG WAS RUN AFTER THE ACCIDENT & OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM WAS CHECKED & OPERATED NORMALLY. ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE FLT SCHOOL WHO FLEW WITH THE STUDENT, THE STUDENT STATED HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT CARB HEAT SHOULD BE APPLIED WHEN THE ENG RPM IS BELOW THE GREEN ARC. ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CHART, CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER WITH A FLOAT TYPE CARBURETOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67516](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67516-1990-11-08), registration cancelled 1990-11-08, S/N 15281884 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15281884
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Eagle Flight Center, Inc.
- Departed: DAB, DAYTONA BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LAL, Lakeland Regional, runway 9, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 39 total, 39 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: LAL

## 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 19900717030779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900717030779A), Jul 17, 1990: Cessna 152, Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. Crashed into trees when engine quit on final. Was not trained to use carburetor heat. Conditions good for carb ice.

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.