Cessna 172H N2786L

Summary

On 7 June 2003 at about 15:45 local time, a Cessna 172H registered N2786L, operated by Grenfell, David L., was involved in an accident near Glasgow, Montana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 June 2003 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Glasgow, Montana, United States

Coordinates

48.2556, -106.8178

Aircraft

Cessna 172H

Registration

N2786L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Grenfell, David L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ione → Glasgow

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03LA097

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Contributing factors were carburetor icing conditions and the muddy, wet terrain at the landing site.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the carburetor equipped Cessna 172H was approximately 9 nautical miles west of his first fuel stop and commenced a let down through a hole in a broken cloud layer. The surface weather observation at his intended destination recorded several minutes after the accident reported two broken cloud layers at 2,600 feet and 3,400 feet, an overcast cloud layer at 7,000 feet, and temperature 53 degrees F. and dew point 45 degrees F. He reported applying carburetor heat and reducing engine RPM, and then having to descend faster and reduce engine RPM further. He continued a "gliding" descent to 4,000 feet and then re-applied power with no effect. He then executed a forced landing to a muddy, wet agricultural field during which the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft nosed over. FAA Advisory Circular 61-23B, "Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge," provides guidance for operations in carburetor icing conditions. Specifically, the reference states in part "... carburetor heat should be turned to "full-on" before closing the throttle, and left on during the closed-throttle operation...." and "...Periodically, however, the throttle should be opened smoothly for a few seconds to keep the engine warm, otherwise the carburetor heater may not provide enough heat to prevent icing...."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.