Gilbert Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Winter Haven, Florida 33833
Sunday, February 9, 1997 11:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot was on his second solo flight, after having flown a dual flight with his instructor. While downwind on a second approach for landing, the student noted the airplane seemed to be performing differently. After turning final, the student noticed he was 'somewhat low for usual or desired glide path.' After advancing the throttle and getting no response, he realized he would not reach the runway, and decided to land in a nearby lake. A subsequent examination of the airplane showed that the carburetor heat was in the cold position and that the mixture control was in the idle cut-off position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's inadvertent movement of the mixture control to idle cut-off during the approach to land, which resulted in engine shut-down, and the student's failure to follow emergency procedures for restarting the engine.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/9/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WINTER HAVEN
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33833
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GILBERT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GIF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 220
Airport Elevation 146
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1051 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID GIF
Elevation of weather observation facility 146
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
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) 600
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 313
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 9 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:07PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6679F
NTSB Number ATL97LA040
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 150F
Aircraft Series Identifier 150F
Aircraft Serial Number 15063279
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 20 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 99
Airframe Hours 2989
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TOM MCGHEE AIRCRAFT, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1855 HIGHWAY 92 WEST
Aircraft Owner City WINTER HAVEN
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33881
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TONY CONTI
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4421 HALLANVIEW LANE
Operator City LAKELAND
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33813
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GIF
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 4
Runway Length 5006
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --