Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Goliad, Texas 77963
Sunday, January 21, 1990 15:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT, WHO HAD BORROWED THE AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 1,500 FEET MSL, LOOKING AT PROPERTY, WHEN THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND STARTED TO 'SPUTTER.' SWITCHING TANKS AND APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT FOR AN UNDETERMINED TIME DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A RANCH ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A TREE AND VEERED RIGHT, CAUSING THE LEFT WING TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE OWNER RECOVERED THE AIRPLANE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY THROUGHOUT 2 STARTS, RUN UPS, AND THE SUBSEQUENT TAKEOFF AND FLIGHT. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT CONDITIONS THAT EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE AT CRUISE AND GLIDE POWER SETTINGS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT FOR CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND PRECIPITATED THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/21/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City GOLIAD
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77963
Event Date Year 1990
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 1451 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID VCT
Elevation of weather observation facility 200
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
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) --
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) 523
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 24 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 730
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41486
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9892Q
NTSB Number FTW90LA057
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 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17265836
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 2 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 71
Airframe Hours 3176
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARRIS, WILLIAM H
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8723 CAVELL LN.
Aircraft Owner City HOUSTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77055
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DARLOW, SCOTT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7778 SPRINGVILLE
Operator City HOUSTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77095
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 IWS
Departure City HOUSTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City GOLIAD
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --