Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Georgetown, Arkansas 72178
Wednesday, February 16, 1994 9:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER CIRCLING A TOWN SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FIND A PRIVATE AIR STRIP, HE DECIDED TO FLY TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND LOSING RPM. THE PILOT'S EFFORTS TO REGAIN POWER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT SUSTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. HE ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING ON A GRAVEL ROAD. TOUCHDOWN WAS SUCCESSFUL; HOWEVER, AFTER A SHORT GROUND ROLL, THE PILOT LIFTED THE AIRPLANE OFF AGAIN TO AVOID HITTING A HIGH TREE STUMP. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN THE SECOND TIME THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE AIRPLANE YAWED INTO A DITCH. THE ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS INDICATED THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ICING EXISTED AT CRUISE POWER FOR THE ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS THAT WERE PRESENT. TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 48 AND 35 DEGREES F, RESPECTIVELY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A CARBURETOR ICING INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH A FORCED LANDING COULD BE EXECUTED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/16/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 920
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City GEORGETOWN
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72178
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 2
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 956 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 345
Weather Observation Facility ID BVX
Elevation of weather observation facility 464
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 117
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 16 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1712
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N737ZY
NTSB Number FTW94LA083
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 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17269813
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 9 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 112
Airframe Hours 4416
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DOWTY, GENE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 417 RENEE
Aircraft Owner City JONESBORO
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MCGUIRE, ERIC A.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 67
Operator City TYRONZA
Operator State AR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 72386
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 6M8
Departure City MARKED TREE
Departure State AR
Departure Country
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code M07
Destination City SEARCY
Destination State AR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --