# NTSB MIA91LA052: Aeronca L-3C, N52350, Brooksville, FL, December 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 1990, 13:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place: Brooksville, FL
- Location: 28.5166° N, 82.4047° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brooksville, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5166&lon=-82.4047&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32808/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA052

## Probable cause

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

AFTER LEVELING OFF FOLLOWING A CLIMB, THE ENG QUIT. DURING THE DESCENT FOR A FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, A POWER LINE, THEN THE GROUND. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE FUEL SYST FOR CONTAMINANTS; NONE WERE FOUND. FUEL QUANTITY WAS SUFFICIENT. THE DAMAGED CARB WAS REMOVED & AN AIRWORTHY CARB WAS INSTALLED FOR THE ENG RUN. THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY. THE DAMAGED CARB WAS BENCH TESTED & FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENG POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52350](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52350), registered now, S/N 058B6712, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA L-3C
- Registry model: [Aeronca L-3C](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-l-3c) (registry code 0191010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 058B6712
- Airframe hours: 1701
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A65 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: White, John W.
- Registered owner: White, John W.
- Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1990, 14 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 670 total, 221 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: TPA, 35 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 19901223057989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901223057989A), Dec 23, 1990: Aronca L3C, Brooksville, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit after climb to cruise. Crash landed in trees. No engine defects. Possible carburetor 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.