# NTSB ATL90LA090: Alon A-2, N37BH, Jonesboro, GA, April 1, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 1, 1990, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Jonesboro, GA
- Coordinates: 33.520668, -84.350898 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5207&lon=-84.3509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8225
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90LA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8225/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA090

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BECAUSE OF CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - single engine aircraft
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - stall/mush - intentional, pilot in command

## Analysis

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKE OFF THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY & THEN QUIT. A HARD LANDING WAS MADE IN A CLEARING ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY WHEN THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE & ALLOWED IT TO MUSH INTO THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED WITH A MIXTURE OF 100LL & AUTOMOTIVE, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT CHECKED NORMALLY BEFORE TAKE OFF. THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS LEFT IN THE ON POSITION WHILE THE AIRPLANE  WAS POSITIONED FOR TAKE OFF ON THE RUNWAY. THE AUTOMOTIVE FUEL STC INDICATES THAT CARBURETOR ICE WILL FORM EARLIER WITH AUTO FUEL, UNDER CONDUCIVE ATOMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS. CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE TAKE OFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N37BH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ALON A-2
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A-101
- Airframe hours: 1728
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C90 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Davis, William G.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 26, 1989, 5 hours before
- Departed: 9A7
- Airport: 9A7, South Expressway, runway 24, 2,980 × 30 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 700 in this make and model, 1,150 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL, 8 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900401007409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900401007409A), Apr 1, 1990: Univar A2ALON, Jonesboro, GA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Stretched glide over trees to open field and landed hard. Carburetor icing prevelant.

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.

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