Piper PA-16 N5368H

Summary

On 29 March 1989 at about 15:45 local time, a Piper PA-16 registered N5368H was involved in an accident near Danville, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 March 1989 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Danville, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

32.5992, -83.2403

Aircraft

Piper PA-16

Registration

N5368H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

MacOn → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL89LA118

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT DELAYED IN APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT AFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, AND HIS SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY-LANDING SITE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE PWR (RPM) DURING CRUISE AS IF IT WAS EXPERIENCING 'A BAD CASE OF CARB ICE'. THE PLT APPLIED CARB HEAT AFTER THE ENGINE LOST OVER 300 RPM. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE PWR AND THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LDG IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE FIELD WAS UNEVEN, AND THE PLT FOUND THAT HE COULD NOT BRAKE THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A FENCE. TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FROM THE INITIAL PWR LOSS TO LDG WAS ONLY 2 TO 3 MINUTES, ACCORDING TO THE PLT. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED BLACK, SOOTY DEPOSITS ON THE FIRING ENDS OF THE SPARK PLUGS. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CURVES, CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF MODERATE ICING AT CRUISE PWR. THE AIRPLANE WAS STC'D TO OPERATE ON AUTOGAS, AND WAS FUELED WITH A MIX OF 100LL AVGAS AND AUTO GAS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.