Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

January 26, 2014 · Cessna 172K · N4VN

Milan, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 26, 2014
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Milan, IL
Aircraft
Cessna 172K
Tail Number
N4VN
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN14LA134

The pilot reported that the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power when he applied carburetor heat during a 1-mile final approach to the destination airport. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field. Although the pilot stated that the engine rpm decreased when he actuated the carburetor heat during the preflight run-up, postaccident examinations revealed no mechanical anomalies with the carburetor or its heat system that would have precluded normal operation. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. It is likely that the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat while operating the airplane in atmospheric conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing during a short final approach.

Full Narrative

On January 26, 2014, at 1717 central standard time, a Cessna 172K, N4VN, experienced a total loss of engine power when the pilot applied carburetor heat during a visual approach to Quad City International Airport (MLI), Moline, Illinois. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field near Milan, Illinois. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The commercial pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight originated from Davenport Municipal Airport, Davenport, Iowa, at 1615 and was destined to MLI. The pilot stated that he applied carburetor heat after the MLI air traffic control tower issued a landing clearance for runway 31 after receiving a special visual flight rules clearance to the airport. When he applied carburetor heat about one mile from the runway, the engine quit. He performed a forced landing to a field and touched down at 10-15 mph. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Dupage Flight Standard District Office, West Chicago, Illinois, did not send an FAA maintenance inspector to examine the airplane on-scene following the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) then requested that the airplane owner provide the carburetor and maintenance logbook copies for examination, which were provided by the owner. The airplane owner stated the mechanic who had performed that last annual inspection also installed the carburetor and then removed it for the post-accident examination. The airplane owner stated that during the post-accident removal of the carburetor, there were no mechanical anomalies with the carburetor heat system. The pilot stated that there was an engine rpm decrease when he checked the operation of carburetor heat during an engine run-up prior to departing on the accident flight. The MLI Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) recorded the following observation: At 1715; special (unscheduled) report; wind – 340 degrees at 11 knots, gust - 21 knots; visibility – 1 statute mile; runway 9 runway visual range – 6,000 feet; weather phenomena - light frozen precipitation; sky condition - broken at 2,700 feet mean sea level, broken at 4,000 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet; temperature - -1 degree Celsius; dew point - -5 degrees Celsius; altimeter – 29.55 inches of mercury. The pilot stated that the airplane did not enter any of the snow showers that were approaching MLI during the accident flight. He said that the snow showers arrived at MLI about 30 minutes after the accident. Special Airworthiness Bulletin, CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, includes a graph that shows the probability of carburetor icing for various temperature and relative humidity conditions. At a temperature and dew point as recorded by the MLI ASOS, there was a probability of icing in glide and cruise power. The received carburetor was a Marvel Schebler MA-4-5, part number 10-3676, serial number MS820601, carburetor. Logbook copies included an Authorized Release Certificate, FAA Form 8130-3, which stated the carburetor was overhauled by Marvel-Schebler Aircraft Carburetors, LLC. The date of FAA Form 8130-3 was July 25, 2013. Copies of logbook entry dated June 25, 2013, at a tachometer time of 4,571 hours, stated that an annual inspection was performed. An entry dated October 21, 2013, at a tachometer time of 4,626 hours, stated that the carburetor was [removed and replaced] with an overhauled carburetor, referencing Form 8130-2. The airplane owner said that the tachometer time at the time of the accident was 4,669 hours. Post-accident disassembly examination of the airplane under the supervision of the IIC and an FAA inspector from Dupage Flight Standard District Office revealed that the fuel screen did not contain contaminant, the idle screw was extended about 2 ½ turns, and the throttle valve and float had clearances from the carburetor body that were within service manual specifications. All of the carburetor retaining hardware was in place and secure.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:17 CST
Nearest AirportQuad City International Airpor (1nm SE)
Runway31
Runway Length7301 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172K
Tail NumberN4VN
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming O-360-A1A · L-14253-36A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 65 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind340° @ 13 kt, gusting 21 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingOvercast 4600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point30 C / 23 C
Altimeter29.51 inHg
Observation Time22:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data