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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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February 27, 1986 · Cessna 172M · N61572

Springerville, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 27, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Springerville, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 172M
Tail Number
N61572
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX86LA129

A Cessna 172M experienced a loss of power and collided with rough terrain on landing. The pilot indicated he was cruising at 9,500 feet MSL (1,500 to 2,000 feet AGL) with an OAT of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The carb heat handle was in the 'off' position when the engine began to run rough. He then pulled the carb heat handle out (on) and the engine ran rougher. The carb heat was pushed in (off) and the engine continued to run rough and eventually quit. The aircraft was being operated in conditions prevalent to fuel vaporization ice in the induction system. A weather observation facility located 45NM to the NW reported a temperature-dewpoint spread of 25 degrees which relates to a relative humidity of approximately 40% and in the potential area for carb ice. The aircraft flight manual states, 'To clear the ice, apply full throttle and pull the carb heat knob full out until the engine runs smoothly; and then remove carb heat and readjust the throttle.'

Full Narrative

A CESSNA 172M EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN ON LANDING. THE PILOT INDICATED HE WAS CRUISING AT 9500 FEET MSL (1500 TO 2000 FEET AGL) WITH AN OAT OF 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE CARB HEAT HANDLE WAS IN THE 'OFF' POSITION WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE THEN PULLED THE CARB HEAT HANDLE OUT (ON) AND THE ENGINE RAN ROUGHER. THE CARB HEAT WAS PUSHED IN (OFF) AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN ROUGH AND EVENTUALLY QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED IN CONDITIONS PREVALENT TO FUEL VAPORIZATION ICE IN THE INDUCTION SYSTEM. A WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITY LOCATED 45NM TO THE NW REPORTED A TEMPERATURE-DEWPOINT SPREAD OF 25 DEGREES WHICH RELATES TO A RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF APPROXIMATELY 40% AND IN THE POTENTIAL AREA FOR CARB ICE. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL STATES, 'TO CLEAR THE ICE, APPLY FULL THROTTLE AND PULL THE CARB HEAT KNOB FULL OUT UNTIL THE ENGINE RUNS SMOOTHLY; AND THEN REMOVE CARB HEAT AND READJUST THE THROTTLE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:15 MST
Nearest AirportSpringerville (35nm S)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172M
Tail NumberN61572
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 28 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data