Alon 415-A2 N6555Q

Summary

On 11 September 1992 at about 14:30 local time, a Alon 415-A2 registered N6555Q, operated by Grant City Flying Club, Inc., was involved in an accident near Sabetha, Kansas, United States. One person was on board and 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

11 September 1992 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sabetha, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

39.9003, -95.7905

Aircraft

Alon 415-A2

Registration

N6555Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Grant City Flying Club, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grant City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI92LA273

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT INITIATED A CRUISE DESCENT TOWARD THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTER REDUCING POWER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AND THEN STOPPED RUNNING AS THE AIRPLANE REACHED THE PILOT'S PREDETERMINED LOWER ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD OF MILO CROPS APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET NORTH OF THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT DID NOT APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT BEFORE REDUCING THE AIRPLANE'S POWER AT THE START OF THE DESCENT. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE HAD APPROXIMATELY HALF ITS NORMAL FUEL LOAD. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING ON AUTO GAS WITHOUT AN STC. THE PILOT CONFIRMED THIS AND SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE AN AUTO GAS STC. THE AIRPLANE WAS OUT OF ITS REQUIRED 14 CFR PART 91 ANNUAL INSPECTION BY THREE YEARS. THE NEAREST FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION CERTIFIED WEATHER REPORTING STATION WAS 57 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT FOR THAT LOCATION WAS 65 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND 49 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT RESPECTIVELY. THESE CONDITIONS ARE CONDUCIVE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.