# Accident 19970501007389A: Piper PA22108, Russellville, AL, May 1, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 1, 1997, 11:00 local time
- Place: Russellville, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5010° N, 87.7205° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5010&lon=-87.7205&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5778Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5778Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-108 (registry code 7102204, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA22108
- Reported engine: LYC O235C1B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 140 total, 45 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL97LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970501007389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

MADE LONG DESCENT SANS CARB HEAT LOST POWER. LANDED ON ROAD. HIT SIGN. SWERVED INTO DITCH. (-23) ON MAY 1, 1997, N5778Z DEPARTED QUINCY LA, INTENDING TO STOP FOR FUEL AT MUSCLE SHOALS (MSL), AL. NEARLY FOUR HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT N5778Z STARTED LOSING POWER DURING THE DESCENT INTO MSL. PIC BARNHILL WAS ABLE TO RESTORE POWER FOR BRIEF PERIODS BY PUMPING THE THROTTLE.  BARNHILL STARTED TO DIVERT TO RUSSELVILLE AIRPORT (M22) BUT DECIDED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY FIVE MILES WEST OF RUSSELLVILLE AIRPORT WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT HE COULDN'T MAKE IT TO M22. DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT THE RIGHT WING HIT A ROAD SIGN WHICH PIVOTED THE AIRPLANE 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND INTO A DITCH, NOSING OVER ONTO ITS BACK.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL97LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA066), May 1, 1997: Piper PA-22-180 (N5778Z), Russellville, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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