Cessna R172E N96164

Summary

On 15 November 1988 at about 01:45 local time, a Cessna R172E registered N96164 was involved in an accident near Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States. 2 people were 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

15 November 1988 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Gwinnett County (17A)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna R172E

Registration

N96164

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

ATL89LA037

1 person had minor injuries.

IMPROPER REPAIR AND/OR MODIFICATION OF THE CARBURETOR AIRBOX BY UNKNOWN PERSON(S), AND THE SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO DETECT THE IMPROPER REPAIR/MODIFICATION DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION(S), WHICH LED TO A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PRESENCE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE CFI & STUDENT WERE PRACTICING TOUCH-&-GO LNDGS AT NIGHT WHEN THE ENG LOST PWR SHORTLY AFTER THE 5TH TOUCH-&-GO. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DMGD WHEN IT WAS LNDD IN TREES. DRG AN EXAM OF THE ENG, DARK, SOOTY DEPOSITS WERE FOUND ON ALL SPARK PLUGS. THE PLUGS WERE REINSTALLED & AN OPNL CHECK OF THE ENG WAS MADE. THE ENG STARTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY & DEVELOPED PWR WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS OPENED. A FURTHER EXAM REVEALED THAT THE CARB HEAT DOOR ON THE CARB AIRBOX WOULD NOT MOVE TO THE FULL ON POSITION WHEN THE CARB HEAT CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. THE AIRBOX HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY MODIFIED AND/OR REPAIRED. NO ENTRIES WERE FOUND IN THE ACFT LOGS CONCERNING THE AIRBOX. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN APRX 97 HRS SINCE THE PREVIOUS ANNUAL INSPN APRX 5 MOS BEFORE THE ACDNT. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 61 & 45 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICE. THE CFI RPRTD THE CARB HEAT WAS USED PRIOR TO EACH LNDG.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.