Cessna 172N accident near Panama City, Florida, March 14, 1991
On March 14, 1991 at about 9:42 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N88FP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panama City, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CARBURETOR ICING DUE TO IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING AND DITCHING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1991 · about 9:42 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N88FP · no longer on the register · serial 17271460
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED VFR ON A PERSONAL FLT ALONG THE SHORELINE. NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PLT/PAX INITIATED A CLIMB AND THE ENG STARTED TO BACKFIRE. THE PLT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, OBTAINED BEST GLIDE AIRSPEED AND INITIATED A FORCED LANDING ON THE BEACH. HOWEVER, THE LANDING WAS DIVERTED TO THE OCEAN DUE TO PERSONNEL ON THE BEACH. WITNESSES STATED THEY OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN MANEUVERS DESCRIBED AS CHANDELLES WITH SHARP POWER REDUCTION AND 1/2 MILE GLIDE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. A REVIEW OF ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS INDICATED SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER BASED ON WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 955 hours in all; 605 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AP (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bay Aero Center, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Observation at 10:44 pm from PFN, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.