Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Millen, Georgia 30442
Saturday, January 11, 1992 10:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE TO SAVANNAH, GEORGIA AT 5000 FEET, THE PILOT REPORTED A REDUCTION IN ENGINE POWER. REPORTEDLY, HE CHANGED THE MIXTURE SETTING AND APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE FULL POWER, BUT THE ENGINE POWER REDUCTION CONTINUED TO A POINT WHERE POWERED FLIGHT WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO AN OPEN FIELD. DURING THE GROUND ROLL OUT, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED THROUGH A FENCE, CROSSED A ROAD, AND FLIPPED INVERTED AFTER COLLIDING WITH A SECOND FENCE. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CURVE, WEATHER CONDITIONS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING ICING CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/11/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1005
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MILLEN
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30442
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID SAV
Elevation of weather observation facility 51
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 50
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 221
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46239
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5866R
NTSB Number ATL92LA035
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
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 17253535
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Oct 3 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 93
Airframe Hours 3717
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGIA FLIGHT INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ATHENS AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City ATHENS
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30605
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GEORGIA FLIGHT INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ATHENS AIRPORT
Operator City ATHENS
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30605
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 AHN
Departure City ATHENS
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 902
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SAV
Destination City SAVANNAH
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight 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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --