# NTSB MIA97LA230: Cessna R172E, N2427, Mary Esther, FL, August 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 1997, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Mary Esther, FL - Coordinates: 30.410144, -86.660858 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4101&lon=-86.6609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38325 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38325/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA230 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - soft - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a banner towing flight when the engine lost power. He jettisoned the banner and attempted a forced landing on the beach. On touchdown the airplane's nose wheel dug into the sand, and nosed over. When the FAA examined the wreckage at the crash site they found 'no sign of fuel in the system,' but they attributed this to the fact that the airplane had been upside down, the wings and engine had been removed at the time of their investigation. An engine test run was performed, and no discrepancies were found. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 1997, about 1615 central daylight time, a Cessna R172E, N2427, registered to Boomer Aviation Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, local banner towing flight, crashed during a forced landing near Mary Esther, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight had departed Navarre, Florida, at 1515. The pilot reported that the engine had lost power while towing a banner. The banner was jettisoned and the pilot attempted a forced landing on the beach. On touchdown the airplane's nosewheel dug into the sand, and nosed over. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA revealed that at the time of their inspection there was "no sign of fuel in the system," but that the airplane had been upside down, the wings and engine had been removed at the time of the FAA's inspection. Examination of the fuel lines, carburetor, and fuel tanks did not reveal any discrepancies. An engine test run was performed on November, 21, 1997, at the facilities of Wiregrass Aviation, Florala, Alabama, under the supervision of the FAA. The engine run did not reveal any discrepancies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2427](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2427), registered now, S/N R172-0235, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna R172E - Registry model: [Cessna R172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172e) (registry code 2072413) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R172-0235 - Airframe hours: 8492 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Boomer Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1997, 143 hours before - Departed: 1J9, NAVARRE, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 736 total, 460 in this make and model, 662 as pilot in command, 401 in the last 90 days, 138 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19970806028259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970806028259A), Aug 6, 1997: Cessna R172E, Mary Esther, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power. Dropped banner. Landed on a beach. Nosed over in soft sand. (-23) aircraft was towing a banner over ft. walton beach, when the engine lost power.… 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.