Piper PA-32-260 N8AG

Summary

On 22 August 1989 at about 18:30 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N8AG, operated by Miller, Lring V., was involved in an accident near Leon, Iowa, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 August 1989 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Leon, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

40.7400, -93.7508

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-260

Registration

N8AG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Miller, Lring V.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Leon → Washington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC89LA185

1 person was seriously injured.

BLOCKAGE OF THE ENGINE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM BY A FIELD MOUSE NEST. THE NEST WAS POSITIONED SO THAT IT COULD NOT BE SEEN DURING THE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION. IT BECAME DISLODGED DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL ON THE ROUGH RUNWAY.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 150 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. UNABLE TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT, AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND SERIOUS AND MINOR INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE'S AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM WAS PLUGGED WITH A FIELD MOUSE NEST, CAUSING ALMOST COMPLETE RESTRICTION OF THE ENGINE'S AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO WAY TO VISUALLY IDENTIFY THE RESTRICTION DURING THE PREFLIGHT DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE NEST. THE PLT SAID THE PRE-TAKEOFF RUNUP WAS SATISFACTORY, BUT HE THOUGHT THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ON THE ROUGH PRIVATE STRIP, THE NEST BECAME DISLODGED AND WAS DRAWN FARTHER UP THE INDUCTION SYSTEM AND CARBURETOR CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.