Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Whiteville, North Carolina 28472
Saturday, April 13, 1991 17:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT PLANNED TO FLY OVER HIS GRANDMOTHER'S FARM. HE HAD MADE ABOUT THREE CIRCLES AROUND HER HOUSE WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN 'SPUTTERING.' HE ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES DURING A FORCED LANDING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE FLIGHT REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT KNOB WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. AN ENGINE RUN REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT SPREAD AT THE TIME WAS 70/55 DEG, WHICH REPRESENTS CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

CARBURETOR ICE DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/13/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1755
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WHITEVILLE
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28472
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
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 1750 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID ILM
Elevation of weather observation facility 32
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 39
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 57
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43068
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:42AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7919F
NTSB Number ATL91LA081
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 15064019
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 12 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 4100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BLACKWELL, ROBERT J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 3, BOX 9
Aircraft Owner City WHITEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28472
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BLACKWELL, ROBERT J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ROUTE 3, BOX 9
Operator City WHITEVILLE
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 28472
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 No
Departure Airport Code CPC
Departure City WHITEVILLE
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --