NTSB Factual Report

On November 22, 2001, at 1545 central standard time, a Cessna 152 single-engine airplane, N48941, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near New Braunfels, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by the International Flight Center of San Antonio, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight originated from Addison, Texas, at 1345.

According to the operator, the pilot pilot flew from San Antonio to Addison on the morning of the day of the accident. The pilot refueled the airplane with 18 gallons of avgas and departed for his return trip to San Antonio. While in cruise flight at 4,500 feet, the engine began to shake and lost partial power. The pilot diverted towards the New Braunfels Municipal Airport and troubleshot the loss of engine power by adjusting the mixture and turning on the carburetor heat. The pilot reported that the engine regained power; however, it lost total power shortly thereafter. The pilot did not think he would be able to make it to the airport, so he elected to land in a field. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear contacted a rut in the field, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.

According to the operator, they found "plenty of fuel onboard the airplane." The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, stated that the airplane's vertical stabilizer was bent to one side and the nose landing gear was damaged. The NTSB investigator-in-charge requested that an aircraft mechanic examine the engine. The mechanic checked crankshaft continuity, confirmed cylinder compressions of #1-68/80, #2-67/80, #3-72/80, and #4-69/80 psi, confirmed that the gascolator and fuel filters were clean, and that the ignition system operated.

At 1553, the San Antonio International Airport's weather observation facility (located approximately 23 miles southwest of the accident site) reported the temperature as 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit), and the dew point as 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit). Review of the "Light Aircraft Piston Engine Carburetor Ice Detector/Warning Device Sensitivity/Effectiveness" chart, dated June 1982, revealed that with the aforementioned temperature and dew point, the conditions existed for "serious icing at glide power." A similar chart, published by the Aviation Safety Bureau Transport Canada, revealed that conditions existed for "moderate icing [at] cruise power or serious icing [at] glide power."

NTSB Probable Cause

the loss of engine power due to carburetor icing conditions while in cruise flight. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the ensuing forced landing.