Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Saipan
Tuesady, November 26, 1991 10:55 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE 100 HOUR STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING AIRWORK IN PREPARATION FOR HIS PRIVATE PILOT FLIGHT TEST WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE OPERATOR SAID THE PILOT TOLD THEM HE WAS PRACTICING SLOW FLIGHT MANEUVERS AND THE ENGINE FALTERED WHEN HE ADDED POWER TO EXIT THE MANEUVER. THE PILOT FIRST DECIDED TO LAND ON A NEARBY GOLF COURSE, HOWEVER, HE OBSERVED MANY PEOPLE ON THE FAIRWAYS AND ELECTED TO LAND ON NEARBY BEACH. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH ROCKS AND THE GROUND DURING THE LANDING FLARE. THE OFFICIAL SAIPAN WEATHER OBSERVATION FOR THE ACCIDENT TIME LISTS A TEMPERATURE OF 80 DEGREES AND A DEW POINT OF 74 DEGREES. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART REVEALS THAT THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT ARE IN AN AREA DEFINED AS 'SERIOUS ICING GLIDE POWER.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CORRECTLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/26/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1055
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SAIPAN
Event State --
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96950
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 11
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 1055 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID GSN
Elevation of weather observation facility 215
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 1983
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46033
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N733PB
NTSB Number LAX92LA051
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17218433
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Nov 14 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 32
Airframe Hours 4759
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PACIFIC ISLAND AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address PPP BOX 318
Aircraft Owner City SAIPAN MP
Aircraft Owner State OF
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 96950
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PACIFIC ISLAND AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PPP BOX 318
Operator City SAIPAN MP
Operator State OF
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 96950
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 GSN
Departure City SAIPAN
Departure State OF
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 8 2003 11:13AM
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 --