Cessna 172B N7662X

Summary

On 25 February 1989 at about 20:45 local time, a Cessna 172B registered N7662X was involved in an accident near Unionville, Iowa, United States. 3 people were 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

25 February 1989 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Unionville, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

40.8109, -92.6900

Aircraft

Cessna 172B

Registration

N7662X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ft. Madison → Osceola

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC89LA064

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL BY THE PILOT, AND THE IMPROPERLY RIGGED CARBURETOR AIR BOX WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED CARBURETOR HEATING CAPABILITY.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE CRUISING TO HIS DESTINATION APT, THE ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FAILED TO RECTIFY THE POWER LOSS AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON A SNOW COVERED FARM FIELD. A COLLISION WITH A DITCH TORE OFF THE NOSE GEAR AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SLIDE ABOUT 300 FEET, COMING TO STOP ON IT'S NOSE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CARB HEAT BOX TO BE IMPROPERLY RIGGED AND A SEAL MISSING FROM THE FLAPPER VALVE. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARB ICING ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS. THE MIS-RIGGING OF THE CARB HEAT BOX PREVENTED FULL APPLICATION OF CARB HEAT. AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE POWER WITH CARB HEAT BUT WAS UNABLE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.