Cessna 172 N5171H

Summary

On 9 March 2024 at about 22:30 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N5171H was involved in an accident near Homestead, Florida, 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

9 March 2024 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Homestead, Florida, United States

Coordinates

25.5503, -80.5588

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N5171H

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Homestead → Miami

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA135

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice as a result of the pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat in 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

According to the pilot, the flight was intended for a “gender reveal.” After departing, the pilot and his passenger were in slow flight at an altitude of 300 ft above ground level (agl), looking for the house. When they found the house, the passenger became nervous about opening the window, so the pilot decided to cancel the reveal. During the climb out, the engine did not respond and the pilot made an emergency landing in a field. Postaccident examination of the fuel system and engine did not reveal any preexisting anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation. The recorded temperature and dew point near the accident site were conducive to “serious icing” at cruise engine power settings. The pilot stated that he did not use the carburetor heat before the loss of engine power. Based on this information, it is likely that carburetor iced formed during the climb out following the period of slow flight that preceded it, which resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.