# Accident 20170730015639A: Steele  John J ACRO SPORT  II, Loudonville, OH, July 30, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 30, 2017, 19:01 local time
- Place: Loudonville, OH
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.6328° N, 82.1769° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6328&lon=-82.1769&mi=10
- Aircraft: N896JC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N896JC-2019-11-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Steele John J ACRO SPORT II (registry code 05646CD, https://openairdocs.org/model/steele-john-j-acro-sport-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEELE  JOHN J ACRO SPORT  II
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA295) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170730015639A

## Narrative

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

MY ADULT SON ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND I WERE RETURNING FROM OSHKOSH WISCONSIN TO BRUNSWICK MAINE ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017. WE WERE FLYING MY RECENTLY RESTORED ACRO II AND CONDUCTING MULTIPLE LEGS AND REFUELING STOPS ON OUR JOURNEY. AT APPROXIMATELY 5 PM WE REFUELED AT SMITH FIELD (KSMD) JUST NORTH OF FORT WAYNE INDIANA AND PLANNED OUR NEXT LEG TO TAKE US TO HOLMES COUNTY AIRPORT (10G) IN MILLERSBURG OHIO. WE WERE APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES FROM OUR DESTINATION (1:15 INTO THE FLIGHT) WHEN I DROPPED DOWN FROM THE 3500 FEET TO 2500 FEET AND SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT IN PREPARATION FOR OUR LANDING AT HOLMES COUNTY. WHEN I ADDED POWER TO LEVEL OFF THE ENGINE BEGIN TO RUN NOTICEABLY ROUGH. MY SON COMMENTED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND OBSERVED NO IMPROVEMENT AS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE MORE POWER AND SPUTTER. WE WERE BOTH IMMEDIATELY AWARE THAT THERE WAS A FIELD BENEATH US THAT WOULD BE OUR ONLY OPTION FOR A FORCED LANDING AND WHILE CONTINUING TO TROUBLESHOOT MY ENGINE PROBLEMS (TO NO AVAIL), I MADE FOR THE FIELD. ONCE AT LOW ALTITUDE I BEGIN TO NOTICE THE PRONOUNCED UNDULATING NATURE OF THE FIELD WHICH GAVE ME CONCERN AND DIFFICULTY CHOOSING A GOOD SPOT TO LAND. I KNEW I NEEDED TO MAKE A CHOICE QUICKLY AS I WAS LOSING ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED AND ROOM IN THE FIELD. I FINALLY CHOSE AND UPSLOPE TOWARD THE END OF THE FIELD TO TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND CRESTED THE HILL, BRIEFLY REGAINING FLIGHT. WE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN JUST AT THE EDGE OF A FIELD OF DEEP SOYBEANS ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE. THE AIRCRAFT DECELERATED RAPIDLY, AND CARRIED UPRIGHT THROUGH THE SOYBEANS FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET BEFORE IT FLIPPED FORWARD ON THE PROPELLER AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN IN THE FIELD. MY SON AND I WERE ABLE TO CRAWL OUT OF THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. WE CALLED 911 RIGHT AWAY.

THE PILOT STATED HE ABOUT 6 GALLONS OF  FUEL REMAINING AT THE TIME OF THE LANDING.

## 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 CEN17LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA295), Jul 30, 2017: Steele Acro Sport  II (N896JC), Loudonville, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

## Other reports on N896JC (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20081015853249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081015853249A), Oct 15, 2008: Steele ACROSPORTII (N896JC), Madison, NH, Substantial damage. On October 15, 2008, [privacy data omitted], pilot in command of N896JC was operating his aircraft in cruise flight when he experienced a partial engine…
- [Accident 19900103000069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900103000069A), Jan 3, 1990: Amtrea ACROSPORT (N896JC), Penn Yan, NY, Substantial damage. Struck a snowbank on takeoff roll and flipped over.
- [Incident 19861021074159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861021074159I), Oct 21, 1986: Amtrea ACROSPORT (N896JC), Marshall Townsh, PA. Engine lost power during flight and pilot landed on the turnpike. Some contamination found in fuel system.

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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