MIA89LA084

1989-02-11 · SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SIG

Aircraft involved

N303CR Cessna 172M None

Probable cause & findings

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

Factual narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, ABOUT 500 FT ABOVE THE AIRPORT, THE PLT REPORTED THE ENG GRADUALLY LOST POWER. UNABLE TO LAND BACK AT THE ARPT, THE ACFT WAS DITCHED. AFTER RECOVERY & REPLACEMENT OF THE MAGNETOS, WIRING HARNESSES, & PLUGS, THE ENG RAN WITH NO ABNORMALITIES. CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE OFF/COLD POSITION. TEMP WAS REPORTED AS 78 DEG F AND DEWPOINT WAS 69 DEG F. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_MIA89LA084.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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