- Date
- July 9, 1994, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Tampa, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5233RCessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940709019499A
- Case key
- 37574
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's improper approach during a forced landing following partial loss of engine power. The loss of engine power was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The flight lost partial engine power while climbing to cruise altitude after departure. While making a forced landing at an airport the flight touched down at the mid point on the runway at 100 knots. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before over running the runway and colliding with a fence. The bottom spark plugs were found to have excessive electrode gaps and to be fouled. After changing the plugs the engine was started and operated to full power.
Factual narrative
On July 9, 1994, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N5233R, registered to Gordon Air Services, Inc., ran off the runway and collided with a fence while making a forced landing following partial loss of engine power at Peter O. Knight Airport, Tampa, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Tampa, Florida, on July 9, 1994, about 1525.
The pilot stated he departed Tampa International Airport and was climbing to his cruise altitude when passing through 1,800 feet the engine lost about 600 rpm. Attempts to recover engine power were unsuccessful. He saw Peter O. Knight Airport ahead and descended for landing on runway 17. The landing to runway 17 was aborted due to excessive airspeed and altitude. A turn to the left was made for a downwind approach to runway 21. While landing on runway 21 he touched down about halfway down the runway at about 100 knots with half flaps extended. He could not stop the aircraft before over-running the runway and colliding with a fence.
After the accident the engine was started and operated to 2,000 rpm where it ran roughly. The bottom spark plugs were removed and replaced with serviceable spark plugs. The engine was then started and operated normally to full power. Examination of the bottom spark plugs indicated the plugs were gapped over twice the recommended gap and that the plugs were fouled.
The engine had a Supplemental Type Certificate complied with, allowing operation with automotive fuel. The owner stated they did normally operate with automotive fuel. The pilot stated he had just topped off the fuel tanks with 100 low lead aviation fuel before the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5233R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17263447
- Airframe hours
- 8,618
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gorden. Keith, doing business as Gordon Air Services, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Gordon Air Services Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 20, 1994 · 41 hours before
- Destination
- TMB · Miami, FL
- Airport
- TPF · Peter O. Knight Airport, runway 21, 3,400 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TPA, 16 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.