Cessna 170A accident near Grain Valley, Missouri, September 6, 2009
On September 6, 2009 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N9129A, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Grain Valley, Missouri (Grain Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2009 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grain Valley, Missouri · Grain Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N9129A · no longer on the register · serial 18886
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he climbed to 2,500 feet mean sea level (msl)and flew enroute for about 1 hour 15 minutes. About 2 – 3 miles from the destination airport, the engine started losing power. The pilot decided to make a straight-in landing, but about 1/4 – 1/2 mile from the runway, the engine lost power completely. The pilot slipped the airplane to lose altitude. The airspeed was about 70 mph when he crossed over the threshold of the runway and there was a tailwind. The pilot attempted to touch down about mid-field, but the airplane bounced. The engine started briefly and then stopped again. The airplane landed hard and skidded to a stop. The post accident inspection of the engine revealed no preexisting anomalies. The temperature was about 23 degrees Celsius and the dew point was 16 degrees Celsius. The Transport Canada Carburetor Icing Chart indicated that the potential for moderate icing existed for cruise power, or serious icing for descent power. The pilot stated that he did not remember if he applied carburetor heat.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during approach
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IA27 Blakesburg IA at 7:05 pm
- Destination: 3GV Grain Valley MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from MKC, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.