Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Olney, Texas 76374
Thursday, April 14, 2005 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 833.9-hour pilot reported that while flying a pipeline patrol mission, he noticed that the engine was starting to lose power. As the airspeed decayed, he applied carburetor heat and noticed the engine was not running rough. The pilot pushed the carburetor heat back in, and noted that the engine was still losing power. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby field. During the landing roll, the nose gear dug into terrain and the airplane nosed over. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine or airframe. Approximately 24 minutes prior to the time of the accident, the weather observation at an airport located 16 miles from the accident site reported temperature 68 degrees Fahrenheit and dew point 45 degrees Fahrenheit. According to information on a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart at the operating temperature/dew point, the airplane was within the "moderate icing - cruise power or serious icing - glide power" range.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Contributing factors were the weather conditions conducive for carburetor icing and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/14/2005
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Olney
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76374
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332103N
Event Location Longitude 0984909W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1206 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 137
Weather Observation Facility ID RPH
Elevation of weather observation facility 1123
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 17947
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Apr 15 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2005 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Forth Worth, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N733UV
NTSB Number DFW05LA103
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17268567
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 Jan 2 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62.3
Airframe Hours 15293.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LH Underwood and Son Aerial Patrol
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 458
Aircraft Owner City Guthrie
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73044
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code F14
Departure City Iowa Park
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1140
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record May 4 2005 5:00PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --