# NTSB ATL93LA147: Piper PA-22-108/U, N5061Z, Mccaysville, GA, August 25, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1993, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Mccaysville, GA
- Coordinates: 34.980873, -84.369071 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9809&lon=-84.3691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3255
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA147
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3255/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA147

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## 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
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

A LAYER OF FOG PREVENTED AN EARLY TAKEOFF AS PLANNED BY THE PILOT. HE REFUELED THE AIRPLANE WITH 11 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL AND COMPLETED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. AFTER THE FOG CONDITION IMPROVED, THE PILOT COMPLETED A RUNUP AND ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF. AS THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF DUE TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. HE RETURNED AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE ROUGH ENGINE CONDITION BY COMPLETING ANOTHER RUNUP PROCEDURE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE NORMAL RUNUP PROCEDURE WAS COMPLETED, WHICH INCLUDED THE CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM,  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED ANOTHER TAKEOFF. AS THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED THROUGH 200 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A ROUGH CONDITION AGAIN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE FULL POWER WHICH INCLUDED THE APPLICATION OF CARB HEAT; THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN NEARBY RIVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM, OR A SUBSYSTEM MALFUNCTION; THE PILOT REPORTED NO PREVIOUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE NEAREST REPORTING SITE WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE; THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING  BEFORE THE FLIGHT.

## Factual narrative

On August 25, 1993, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA22, N5061Z, ditched in a river near McCaysville, Georgia. The personal flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed Copperhill, Tennessee, at 1025 hours.

A layer of fog prevented an early departure as planned by the pilot. The pilot refueled with 11 gallons of aviation fuel and completed a preflight inspection. As the fog condition improved, the pilot completed an engine runup and attempted a takeoff. He aborted the takeoff and returned for another takeoff. The pilot reported that the airplane did not accelerate sufficiently for a safe takeoff, and that the engine developed a rough condition.

The pilot completed another engine runup that included a check of the carburetor heat system; all systems operated normally. A second takeoff and liftoff were completed but as the airplane climbed through 250 feet the engine developed another rough condition. The pilot selected a nearby river, and established an emergency descent for a forced landing; the airplane ditched in the river.

The subsequent retrieval and examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. An examination of the weather data disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5061Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5061Z-2013-07-01), registration cancelled 2013-07-01, S/N 22-8686, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-108/U (PA-22-108/)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-8686
- Airframe hours: 2300
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1B 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Fast, Norman L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 1993, 49 hours before
- Departed: 1A3, COPPERHILL, TN
- Destination: AVL, ASHEVILLE, NC
- Airport: 1A3, Martin Campbell, runway 20, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 963 total, 56 in this make and model, 795 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHA, 25 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 19930825031439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930825031439A), Aug 25, 1993: Piper PA22108, Copperhill, TN, Substantial damage. Aborted first takeoff due engine problems. Runup ok. On second takeoff same, ditched in river. Carb icing condition

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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