Stephenville, TX, USA
N2629U
Cessna 172B
The private pilot reported a loss of engine power when he reduced power during the landing approach. He was unable to restart the engine, and realized he would not be able to glide to the airport. He made a forced landing in a field, but collided with trees prior to landing. The airplane's right wing separated from the fuselage, and the airplane came to rest inverted. In the pilot's report to the NTSB, he checked the block "Was there mechanical malfunction/failure?" as "Unknown." In the recommendations section of the report, he wrote: "I believe I had carb ice-I think if I would not have reduced power to idle this would have prevented the accident." The temperature and dew point in the vicinity of the accident site were 28F and 19F, respectively. An icing probability chart indicates that this combination is likely to produce moderate carburetor icing at idle power.
The airplane collided with trees during a forced landing to a pasture following a reported loss of engine power while on a visual approach to the destination airport. The 241-hour private pilot reported in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report) that following a 10-minute flight covering 12-nautical miles to his destination airport; he turned onto the final approach course and pulled back the throttle to idle power in order to lose altitude. Upon retarding the throttle, the engine lost power; however, the pilot was able to attempt two restarts without success. At this point, the pilot realized he would not be able to make it to the airport and executed a 180-degree turn toward a nearby small pasture. The single-engine airplane was not able to clear the mature trees at the edge of the pasture and the airplane impacted the trees approximately 2 miles south of the airport. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position with the right wing and right cabin door separated from the aircraft. There was no post crash fire and the pilot was able to exit the airplane through the left cabin door sustaining minor injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that responded to the accident site noted that there was no water present in the fuel lines and that both fuel tanks were empty on inspection. The pilot reported that during his preflight inspection, he measured the fuel on each fuel cell and estimated to have approximately 4 gallons in each tank. In the recommendation block of the completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot attributes the loss of engine power to carburetor ice. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as winds from 340 degrees at 9 knots, 7 statute miles visibility, broken clouds at 1,900 feet above ground level, and a temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
The loss of engine power during the landing approach due to the pilot's failure to follow the appropriate procedures to preclude carburetor ice in known carburetor icing conditions.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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