# NTSB NYC97LA136: Cessna 172P, N97011, Wildwood, NJ, July 6, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 1997, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Wildwood, NJ - Location: 39.0084° N, 74.9085° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CAPE MAY COUNTY (WWD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0084&lon=-74.9085&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39395 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39395/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA136 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate use of carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor icing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - carburetor heat - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis After a 1 hour cruise flight, the pilot established a straight in approach to the landing runway. The pilot set the flaps to 10 degrees, the carburetor heat on, and noticed he was 'slightly low for landing.' He then increased the throttle, but there was no increase in power. According to the pilot at this point he checked that the primer was in and the mixture was full rich. The pilot added that he realized he was not going to make the runway, so he started to look for an alternate landing area. The airplane then struck a tree, and came to rest in a pond. Fuel was found in the wing tanks, and a post accident run of the engine was satisfactory. A carburetor icing chart revealed the conditions were conducive for moderate icing for cruise power, and serious icing for glide power. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 1997, at 1930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N97011, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during an emergency landing at the Cape May County Airport (WWD), Wildwood, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Caldwell, New Jersey, about 1830, destined for WWD. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he choose a straight in approach to Runway 28 at WWD. The pilot set the flaps to 10 degrees, the carburetor heat on, and noticed he was "slightly low for landing." He then increased the throttle, but there was no increase in power. According to the pilot at this point he check that the primer was in and the mixture was full rich. The pilot added that he realized he was not going to make the runway, so he started to look for an alternate landing area. The pilot observed a "slight" clearing about 300 feet short of the runway. At 80 feet AGL, the propeller came to a complete stop, the stall horn sounded, and the left gear and wing struck a tree at the edge of the clearing. The impacted rotated the airplane 45 degrees left before it impacted the water just short of the runway environment. In a telephone interview the Chief of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, Bureau of Inspection and Aircraft Operation, he stated that the environmental protection agency recovered approximately 15 gallons of fuel while cleaning up the accident site. Examination, and operational testing of the engine was preformed after water was drained from the carburetor. The engine was then operated to 1700 RPM, and both magnetos dropped 100 RPM when tested. A weather sequence report from WWD, at 1940, listed the visibility as 10 miles, with the temperature at 74 degrees and the dewpoint at 63 degrees. A carburetor icing chart found in an FAA publication, Tips on Winter Flying was examined. The point where a temperature of 73 degrees, and dewpoint of 64 degrees intersected on the chart, was listed as "moderate icing - cruise power or serious icing - glide power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N97011](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97011-1997-11-07), registration cancelled 1997-11-07, S/N 17276145 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17276145 - Airframe hours: 7319 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Caldwell Flight Academy - Registered owner: Airman Leasing Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 1997 - Departed: CDW, CALDWELL, NJ - Destination: WWD - Airport: WWD, Cape May County Airport, runway 28, 4,998 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 192 total, 115 in this make and model, 123 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: WWD ## 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 19970706017059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970706017059A), Jul 6, 1997: Cessna 172P, Wildwood, NJ, Substantial damage. Aircraft on final approach to runway, when rpms dropped off. Landed short in a nearby body of water. 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.