- Date
- December 30, 1991, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Blythe, GA
- Injuries
- 4 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1733TPiper PA 28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911230057559A
- Case key
- 8492
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat during the before takeoff check as part of the ground check. A factor was weather conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
Analysis
During climbout the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power and attempted a forced landing in a wooded area. A witness reported that the engine cut out as the airplane flew over his location. Seconds later the airplane crashed in the adjacent woods and burned. Examination of the accident site disclosed propeller slash marks on freshly cut trees along the wreckage path. The wreckage examination failed to reveal a mechanical component failure or a system malfunction with the powerplant or airframe. However, the local weather report indicated conditions favorable for the formulation of carburetor ice. According to the owner's handbook, the pilot should check the carburetor heat during the ground check to eliminate the formation of carburetor ice during taxi.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1733T
- Reported as
- Piper PA 28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7125053
- Airframe hours
- 3,600
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Giles, David M.
- Registered owner
- Giles, David M.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 12, 1992 · 57 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Blythe, GA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 130 total · 70 in this make and model · 100 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AGS, 10 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.