Event Overview
On August 9, 2015, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172C, registration N8370X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) in Kissimmee, Florida. The airplane was conducting touch-and-go landings on runway 33 under visual meteorological conditions with no flight plan filed, operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 for a personal flight.
According to the student pilot, who was also the registered owner, while in the traffic pattern, the controller requested an extension of the downwind leg, which the pilot complied with. Shortly thereafter, the engine ceased producing power. The pilot declared an emergency and attempted to reach the runway but struck a palm tree on a golf course adjacent to the airport and impacted terrain just short of the runway.
Aircraft Examination
Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing and firewall, as well as damage to the propeller and nose gear. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector conducted an engine and airframe inspection. Manual rotation of the engine produced compression on each cylinder and spark from each ignition lead. The spark plugs were described as clean with a light gray or tan color. Internal inspection found the crankshaft, rods, and camshaft in good condition.
The carburetor was partially separated from the engine just below the throttle valve. Actuation of the accelerator pump yielded about 1 ounce of rust-colored water and fuel. The carburetor bowl was empty but had two half-inch thick rust stains on each side of the drain plug. The carburetor inlet screen and the hose between the strainer and carburetor bowl were clear of debris, though a small quantity of water—approximately one-quarter ounce—was found in the hose. The glass gascolator showed condensation but no fuel or water. When the tail was held down, about 4 ounces of water drained from the right wing fuel tank and about 5 ounces from the left wing fuel tank.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a student pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land, with a last FAA third class medical issued on August 20, 2013, without restrictions. The pilot reported a total flight time of 140 hours, of which 125 hours were in the Cessna 172C. The pilot stated that heavy rain had fallen the week before the accident, but no water was observed when sumping the fuel drains before the flight.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, weather at Kissimmee Gateway Airport included wind from 350 degrees at 5 knots, scattered clouds at 2,400 feet, and visibility of 10 miles.