Piper PA-24-250 N6757P

Summary

On 22 October 2023 at about 19:15 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N6757P was involved in an accident near Ottawa, Ohio, 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

22 October 2023 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Ottawa, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

41.0171, -84.0931

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N6757P

Category

Airplane

Year built

1960

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Abrams → Pompano Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24LA014

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice..

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was flying cross-country to his home airport after purchasing the airplane. No problems were noted during the preflight inspection. About 40 minutes into the flight at 6,700 ft mean sea level (msl), he noticed a 5-inch drop in manifold pressure. He immediately applied carburetor heat for about 90 seconds. He stated that the airplane “buffered really hard.” He continued to monitor engine performance and applied carburetor heat no less than 4 times for about 30 seconds each time. With the carburetor heat still on he heard a bang and the airplane shuddered. There was no response from the propeller or the engine. The engine lost all power and he began looking for a road to land the airplane on. He discussed his intentions with air traffic control. Unable to find a road without powerlines or automobile traffic, he landed the airplane in a flat field. After touchdown, the airplane entered a cornfield and came to rest upright, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and lower fuselage. Examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal evidence of an anomaly or malfunction that would have prevented normal operation. The airplane was operated in conditions conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at glide power. Although the pilot reported that he used carburetor heat, it is likely that the ice had already accumulated to the degree that the carburetor heat was insufficient to melt the ice and restore engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.