Horak Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elberta, Alabama 36530
Saturday, April 20, 1991 17:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED A PARA-DROP AND WAS CIRCLING THE AREA WAITING FOR THE JUMPERS TO TOUCHDOWN. WHILE MANEUVERING 800 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, BUT FAILED. HE LANDED IN A PLANTER FIELD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO REVEAL A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, OR A COMPONENT FAILURE. INDUCTION ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED CARBURETOR HEAT WAS USED AS HE DESCENDED TO 2500 FEET, BUT HE FELT THAT NO ADDITIONAL HEAT WS NEEDED SINCE IT WAS A RELATIVELY CLEAR DAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS WERE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF INDUCTION ICE, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/20/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ELBERTA
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36530
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 HORAK FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7J9
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 75
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1651 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID PNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 704
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44668
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7202E
NTSB Number ATL91LA086
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 182B
Aircraft Series Identifier 182B
Aircraft Serial Number 52202
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LILES, JAMES E.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5125 FLAMINGO STREET
Operator City PENSACOLA
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32507
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) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1625
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Approach
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 36
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --