Cessna 182C N8983T

Summary

On 24 May 1995 at about 21:10 local time, a Cessna 182C registered N8983T was involved in an accident near Castleberry, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 May 1995 at 21:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Castleberry, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.2897, -87.0205

Aircraft

Cessna 182C

Registration

N8983T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Auburn → Foley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL95LA098

1 person had minor injuries.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT IN A TIMELY MANNER, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH TERRAIN AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH WHILE DESCENDING FROM 8,500 TO 4,500 MSL. THE ENGINE THEN LOST POWER, AND ALTITUDE COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A FARM FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER ON ROUGH TERRAIN. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE WAS CONDUCTED. THE ENGINE ROTATED FREELY WHEN THE PROPELLER WAS ROTATED BY HAND. THE ENGINE INTERNAL CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED. THE TOP SPARK PLUGS WERE REMOVED AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF BLACK, SOFT SOOT ON THE ELECTRODES OF THE SPARK PLUGS. THE STARTER WAS ENERGIZED AND THE ENGINE STARTED SUCCESSFULLY. THE ENGINE WAS RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES, THEN SHUT DOWN. THE PILOT/OPERATOR'S HANDBOOK DESCENT CHECKLIST REQUIRED THE USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT IF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED. ICING PROBABILITY CURVES INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED IN AN AREA CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.