Quad City International Airpor Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Milan, Illinois 61264
Sunday, January 26, 2014 17:17 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power when he applied carburetor heat during a 1-mile final approach to the destination airport. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field. Although the pilot stated that the engine rpm decreased when he actuated the carburetor heat during the preflight run-up, postaccident examinations revealed no mechanical anomalies with the carburetor or its heat system that would have precluded normal operation. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power. It is likely that the pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat while operating the airplane in atmospheric conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing during a short final approach.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/26/2014
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1717
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Milan
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61264
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412560N
Event Location Longitude 0903260E
Event Location Airport Quad City International Airpor
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MLI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles 1.74
Degrees magnetic from airport 130
Airport Elevation 590
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1652 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID MLI
Elevation of weather observation facility 590
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.51
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32942
NTSB Notification Source CEN Duty Officer
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2014 1:09PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4VN
NTSB Number CEN14LA134
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 172K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17258242
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 Jun 25 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 98
Airframe Hours 4571
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AAXIOM CONSULTING LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 112 S Main
Aircraft Owner City Olds
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 52645
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Mt. Pleasant
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48560
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DVN
Departure City Davenport
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MLI
Destination City Milan
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2014 12:58PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 7301
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --