Piper PA28 N656ST

Summary

On 12 March 2020 at about 20:22 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N656ST, operated by Beverly Flight Center Inc, was involved in an accident near Beverly, Massachusetts, 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

12 March 2020 at 20:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Beverly, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Beverly Rgnl (BVY)

Coordinates

42.5797, -70.9267

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N656ST

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Beverly Flight Center Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20LA126

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, and the student pilot’s failure to utilize carburetor heat in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot performed a power-off approach and touch-and-go landing, and during the initial climb, the engine lost partial power. He made a left turn to land on another runway at the airport; however, the airplane did not touch down until it was about ¾ down the runway. The airplane continued off the runway and came to rest in trees past the airport perimeter fence, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, horizontal stabilizer, and engine mounts. An examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical anomalies. The airplane was equipped with a carburetor ice detection system and both the control box and carburetor heat control lever were found in the off position. The pilot did not report using the carburetor heat during the flight. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing at cruise power. Since no anomalies were noted during the engine examination, it is likely that the loss of engine power was a result of carburetor icing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.