Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Agate, Colorado 80101
Thursday, March 18, 1999 21:38 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in cruise flight at 8,500 feet in dark night conditions, the aircraft's engine began experiencing a gradual loss of rpm. The pilot adjusted the mixture setting and applied carburetor heat, but was unsuccessful in restoring full power. She attempted to divert to the Limon, Colorado, Airport, 14 nautical miles to the east, but the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane impacted the ground, became airborne, then hit the ground again in a rough, open field. The aircraft then nosed over. Two examinations on the engine and airframe were performed and no mechanical engine abnormalities or discrepancies were found. According to reported weather conditions at Limon, the closest weather facility located 14 miles from the accident site, the temperature and dew point were 30 and 25 degrees F., respectively, with overcast ceilings at 2,500 feet. According to a carburetor icing chart, the conditions near the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of moderate to severe icing with a cruise power setting.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The development of carburetor ice resulting in a partial loss of engine power. Factors were the weather conditions favorable for carburetor icing, the dark night conditions, and the lack of suitable terrain for landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/18/1999
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2138
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City AGATE
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80101
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2155 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID LIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5365
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5128
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 110
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 18 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1321F
NTSB Number DEN99LA057
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172G
Aircraft Series Identifier 172G
Aircraft Serial Number 17254816
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 3 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 114
Airframe Hours 3458
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LOTTIE K. THEUT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2300 CEDAR SHORES CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City JACKSONVILLE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32210
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ITR
Departure City BURLINGTON
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 2100
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code APA
Destination City ENGLEWOOD
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --