N9263H

On April 20, 2022, about 1915 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N9263H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Smith Airport (43KS), Manhattan, Kansas. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported flying a visual approach to a 2,800-ft turf runway that had an upslope. When the airplane was about two-thirds down the runway, at an airspeed of about 55 knots, and with its flaps extended, the pilot applied full throttle. The pilot perceived a partial loss of engine power based on lower-than-expected noise and the airplane’s inability to climb normally. The airplane descended slightly and subsequently impacted trees and fence poles off the end of the runway, which substantially damaged both wings.

Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal power. The pilot stated that he did not apply carburetor heat during the visual approach. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, the airplane had a probability of encountering serious carburetor icing at glide power near the accident location.

A pilot familiar with 43KS reported that the runway upslope was “deceiving and can sneak up on you” and that a creek at the departure end often produced “dead air” and a loss of lift, which demonstrated the importance of executing a flyover with excess airspeed. After the accident, the pilot stated that he should have maintained a higher airspeed during the low approach and initiated the go-around earlier.