C172 passenger reports rough running engine 6 NM ese of ZZZ1 at 1000 feet. Aircraft is able to climb...

Attributes
ACN	759126
Time
Date	200710
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz1.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	DVR
Person 1
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 2350 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	759126
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : landed as precaution other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

We conducted a run-up with no negative findings. We took off. We transitioned east thru the class 'C' airspace of ZZZ1 and proceeded southeast. Approximately 10 NM out we activated our flight plan. It was XA05 hours and the engine began to run rough. We were at 1000 ft in level cruise flight. We attempted to correct the problem checking fuel; mixture and throttle. We also tried carburetor heat. Nothing corrected the problem. We turned back toward ZZZ1 and began to climb. We contacted ZZZ1 and advised of our situation and requested clearance back to ZZZ. This was granted and we attained 2000 ft. We were now in gliding distance of ZZZ. We contacted ZZZ and advised of our situation and our high pattern altitude. We were given clearance to land and did so without incident. The plane was taken to a mechanic and found to have had numerous ignition problems that have since been corrected.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PAX REPORTS ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE 6 NM ESE OF ZZZ1 AT 1000 FEET. ACFT IS ABLE TO CLIMB TO 2000 FEET AND RETURN TO DEPARTURE ARPT.

Narrative: WE CONDUCTED A RUN-UP WITH NO NEGATIVE FINDINGS. WE TOOK OFF. WE TRANSITIONED E THRU THE CLASS 'C' AIRSPACE OF ZZZ1 AND PROCEEDED SE. APPROX 10 NM OUT WE ACTIVATED OUR FLT PLAN. IT WAS XA05 HRS AND THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. WE WERE AT 1000 FT IN LEVEL CRUISE FLT. WE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROB CHKING FUEL; MIXTURE AND THROTTLE. WE ALSO TRIED CARB HEAT. NOTHING CORRECTED THE PROB. WE TURNED BACK TOWARD ZZZ1 AND BEGAN TO CLB. WE CONTACTED ZZZ1 AND ADVISED OF OUR SITUATION AND REQUESTED CLRNC BACK TO ZZZ. THIS WAS GRANTED AND WE ATTAINED 2000 FT. WE WERE NOW IN GLIDING DISTANCE OF ZZZ. WE CONTACTED ZZZ AND ADVISED OF OUR SITUATION AND OUR HIGH PATTERN ALT. WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO LAND AND DID SO WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE PLANE WAS TAKEN TO A MECH AND FOUND TO HAVE HAD NUMEROUS IGNITION PROBS THAT HAVE SINCE BEEN CORRECTED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

C172 passenger reports rough running engine 6 NM ese of ZZZ1 at 1000 feet. Aircraft is able to climb to 2000 feet and return to departure airport.