# NTSB MIA98LA013: Cessna 172G, N4690L, Panacea, FL, October 17, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 1997, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Panacea, FL - Coordinates: 30.029676, -84.379043 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0297&lon=-84.3790&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38419 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38419/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of carburetor heat resulting in loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and an in flight collision with trees during a forced landing. ## Analysis While performing maneuvers at between 1,800 and 2,300 feet the engine began to run rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat but when that did not seem to have any effect he turned it off. The pilot continued the flight and descended to a lower altitude for additional maneuvers. He then noticed the engine had lost rpm and applied full throttle at which time the engine quit. A forced landing was made in trees. After the accident the carburetor heat was found off and all engine controls operated normally. The engine was run with no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. The aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to visible carburetor icing at cruise power and serious carburetor icing at glide power. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 1997, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N4690L, registered to individuals, collided with trees while making a forced landing following loss of engine power near Panacea, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the student-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Panacea, the same day, about 1630. The pilot stated that he climbed to between 1,800 and 2,300 feet after departure and performed maneuvers. The engine began to run rough during this time and the oil pressure, oil temperature, and rpm were fine. He continued the flight and descended to 1,200 feet to perform more maneuvers. While maneuvering he noticed that the engine had lost 100 rpm and he applied carburetor heat, but nothing happened. The altitude was now 700 feet and he increased the engine throttle to full. The engine quit. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and finding no suitable place to land, he landed in trees. The aircraft descended through the trees and came to rest. Examination of the aircraft after the accident was performed by an airframe and powerplant mechanic. The carburetor heat was found in the off position and all engine controls were properly attached and operating normally. After recovery of the aircraft from the trees, the engine was test run under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The engine started immediately and after warming up was operated to 1,500 rpm. The magnetos operated normally during checks and the carburetor heat operated normally. No evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction was found during the test run. A higher rpm was not selected due to vibration observed from the bent propeller blades. (See attached statements). Carburetor icing probability curves showed that at the time of the accident the aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to visible icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at glide power. (See attached icing probability curves). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4690L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4690L-2000-01-29), registration cancelled 2000-01-29, S/N 17254685 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17254685 - Airframe hours: 4016 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Al Fitzgerald - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 22, 1997, 15 hours before - Departed: 2J0 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 95 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 25 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 19971017031399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971017031399A), Oct 17, 1997: Cessna 172G, Panacea, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed in trees. No defects found. Carb heat was off. Carb icing probability high. (-23) student was performing training flight, slow flight, turn… 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.