Cessna 172H accident near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, April 16, 1995
On April 16, 1995 at about 4:30 am local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N3835R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT DURING DESCENT, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING, AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1995 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3835R · no longer on the register · serial 17255335
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE INITIATED AN EN ROUTE DESCENT FROM 4,500 FEET AGL, TURNED THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON AND THEN TURNED IT BACK OFF. HE CONTINUED HIS DESCENT TO 2,000 FEET AGL, REDUCED POWER, TURNED THE CARBURETOR HEAT ON, AND THE ENGINE QUIT. AN ENGINE RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SEWAGE TREATMENT DIKE DURING THE FORCED LANDING. REVIEW OF THE PROBABILITY CARBURETOR ICING CHART REVEALED THE ENGINE COULD ENCOUNTER SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER BASED ON THE 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 231 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1994; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3M7 Lafayette TN
- Destination: OLA4 Reserve LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 am from PIB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.