Cessna 172 N8968B

Summary

On 26 March 1999 at about 21:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N8968B was involved in an accident near Florala, 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

26 March 1999 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Florala, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Florala Municipal (OJ4)

Coordinates

31.0206, -86.2997

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N8968B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Milton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL99LA059

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION WITH WATER.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the airplane had been parked on the ramp for several days, and it had rained the day before the accident. During the preflight inspection the pilot stated he had taken fuel samples from both fuel tanks and found no water or other contamination. After the preflight examination, the flight departed on runway 04. The pilot turned downwind, and had started a turn to left base when the engine lost power and sputtered. The pilot activated the carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks before returning the fuel selector to both. The engine continued to sputter. While attempting to return to runway 04, the airplane collided with trees approximately 50 feet south of the airport. Examination of the airplane disclosed the presence of water in the fuel tanks.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.