Summary
On April 16, 1995, a Cessna 172H (N3835R) was involved in an incident near Hattiesburg, MS. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT DURING DESCENT, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING, AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
On April 15, 1995, about 2330 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N3835R, registered to Vickie C. Hall, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power and crashed in the vicinity of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Lafayette Municipal Airport, Lafayette, Tennessee, about 4 hours 15 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated he initiated an en route descent from 4,500 feet agl, turned the carburetor heat on and then turned it back off. He continued his descent to 2,000 feet agl, reduced power, turned the carburetor heat on, and the engine quit.
This incident is documented in NTSB report MIA95LA109. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3835R.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT DURING DESCENT, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING, AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 15, 1995, about 2330 central daylight time, a Cessna 172H, N3835R, registered to Vickie C. Hall, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power and crashed in the vicinity of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Lafayette Municipal Airport, Lafayette, Tennessee, about 4 hours 15 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated he initiated an en route descent from 4,500 feet agl, turned the carburetor heat on and then turned it back off. He continued his descent to 2,000 feet agl, reduced power, turned the carburetor heat on, and the engine quit. An engine restart was attempted with negative results, and the airplane collided with a sewage treatment dike during the forced landing.
Review of the probability carburetor icing chart revealed that the engine could encounter serious icing at glide power based on the weather observation at the time of the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA95LA109