Twin County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hillsville, Virginia 24343
Sunday, September 13, 2009 13:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot stated that, while on the base leg, the engine stopped and she made a forced landing in a field one quarter of a mile from the airport. The carburetor heat was in use at the time of the loss of power. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the flight control system components, engine, and system components showed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The current ambient temperature was 73 degrees Fahrenheit, with a dew point of 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that serious carburetor icing could occur at glide power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/13/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Hillsville
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24343
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 364558N
Event Location Longitude 0804924W
Event Location Airport Twin County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HLX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2693
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1345 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID HLX
Elevation of weather observation facility 2693
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 26333
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 13 2009 3:45PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N734TV
NTSB Number ERA09LA517
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 17269109
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Apr 16 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 26
Airframe Hours 12528
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name TWIN COUNTY AVIATION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 760
Aircraft Owner City GALAX
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 24333-0760
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Twin County Aviation LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 504 Hanger Road
Operator City Hillsville
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 24343
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MWK
Departure City Mount Airy
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HLX
Destination City Hillsville
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 13 2009 3:45PM
User who most recently changed record muzd
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 01
Runway Length 4204
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --