Piper PA28-151 N32146

Summary

On 1 September 2009 at about 14:53 local time, a Piper PA28-151 registered N32146, operated by Plane Nonsense Inc, was involved in an accident near Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States. 2 people were 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

1 September 2009 at 14:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States

Coordinates

42.0336, -71.2194

Aircraft

Piper PA28-151

Registration

N32146

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Plane Nonsense Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bedford → Bedford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA496

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot performed a preflight inspection prior to departure, including "topping off" the fuel tanks, and he observed no contamination in the fuel. After departure, the pilot maneuvered in the local area for about 20 minutes. He performed a stall maneuver and shortly after the airplane’s engine started to "sputter and run rough." The pilot attempted unsuccessfully to troubleshoot the problem, including turning on the carburetor heat and switching fuel tanks. When he realized that he would be unable to make it to a nearby airport, the pilot prepared for a forced landing to the highway below. During the landing, the left wing struck a barrier resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed sufficient fuel in the right tank and the left tank was breached. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. Review of the Federal Aviation Administration carburetor ice probability chart revealed that the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to "serious icing" conditions at glide power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.