Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

El Dorado, Kansas 67042
Friday, January 13, 2012 17:50 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was on a local flight and the airplane had climbed to an altitude of about 10,700 feet. The pilot reduced the power and established a glide. At an altitude of about 8,000 feet, he advanced the throttle, but the engine only reached about 1,500 rpm. He checked the throttle and mixture controls and applied carburetor heat; however, the engine rpm kept getting lower. During the forced landing in a field, the airplane impacted an embankment and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. An examination of the engine failed to identify any anomalies that would account for a loss of power. A review of the carburetor icing probability chart revealed that the weather conditions were just outside favorable conditions for the formation of carburetor icing. Additionally, the air temperature and moisture content at 8,000- to 12,000-feet altitude were not conducive to carburetor icing. A review of Transport Canada’s publication, TP10737, “The use of automobile gasoline (Mogas) in Aviation,” dated March 31, 1993, noted that, “Mogas is generally higher in volatility than Avgas [aviation gas]. Mogas will thus absorb more heat from the mixing air when vaporizing, resulting in ice accumulation at higher ambient temperatures. The likelihood of carburetor icing while flying on Mogas is higher.” Despite the low power setting during the glide and the use of Mogas, the weather conditions near the accident site did not appear to be favorable for the formation of carburetor icing. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/13/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1750
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City El Dorado
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 67042
Event Date Year 2012
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1754 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID KAAO
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
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) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30636
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 5 2012 2:07PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N714BS
NTSB Number CEN12LA135
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15079055
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 22 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 10375
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name PRAIRIE AIR SERVICE INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BENTON
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67017-9154
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PRAIRIE AIR SERVICE INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BENTON
Operator State KS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 67017-9154
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 1K1
Departure City Benton
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 1K1
Destination City Benton
Destination State KS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2012 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight --
Air Medical Flight --
Medical Flight --