- Date
- October 12, 1997, 12:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place
- Wiggins, MS
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N945SMCessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 7, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971012031289A
- Case key
- 38552
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
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons resulting in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain and the aircraft nosing over during landing roll.
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
While climbing through 300 feet after takeoff the engine quit. While making a forced landing in a field the aircraft nosed over. Post crash examination showed the aircraft contained uncontaminated fuel and all fuel lines were unobstructed. The engine was started and operated with no evidence of failure or malfunction. Disassembly of the carburetor after engine run showed no evidence of failure or malfunction. The aircraft was not operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing at rated power.
Factual narrative
On October 12, 1997, about 1205 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N945SM, registered to the Mississippi Forestry Commission, nosed over while making a forced landing in a field following loss of engine power at Wiggins, Mississippi, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 public use flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that after takeoff, while climbing through 300 feet, the engine quit. He was able to restore partial power by pumping the engine throttle. He was unable to return to the airport and the aircraft nosed over while making a forced landing in a plowed field.
Postcrash examination of the aircraft and engine was performed by an FAA inspector. The aircraft and engine was found to contain uncontaminated fuel and all fuel lines were unobstructed. Each engine control was still connected and operated properly. After the aircraft was recovered from the field, the engine was started and operated to 2,000 rpm with no evidence of failure or malfunction. The engine was not operated to full power due to a bent propeller. After the engine run, the carburetor was removed and disassembled. No evidence to indicated mechanical failure or malfunction was found in the carburetor. (See FAA Inspector Statement).
Carburetor icing probability curves showed the aircraft was not operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing at rated power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N945SM
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17274742
- Airframe hours
- 4,263
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mississippi Forestry Comm.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 10, 1997 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- MS06
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- MS06 · Dean Griffin Memorial, runway 17, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,625 total · 485 in this make and model · 3,505 as pilot in command · 108 in the last 90 days · 59 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GPT, 30 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.