- Date
- August 11, 1997, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Milan, TN
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7294FPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 7, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970811046939A
- Case key
- 3885
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 loss of partial engine power due to undetermined reasons. A factor was the favorable atmospheric conditions for carburetor icing.
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.
Analysis
According to the CFI, the airplane had only five hours since the last major overhaul. After flying the aircraft solo to check for problems, the CFI took a dual student on a training flight. After takeoff, the engine began to lose power. The RPM began to steadily decrease until the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. At this point, the CFI decided to land the airplane straight ahead into a wooded area. The atmospheric conditions were favorable for carburetor icing.
Factual narrative
On August 11, 1997, at 1245 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N7294F, executed a forced landing after a partial power failure on climbout from Gibson County Airport, Milan, Tennessee. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for this instructional flight. The airplane incurred substantial damage. The certified flight instructor (CFI) pilot in command was not injured, while the student pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the CFI, the airplane had recently been inspected after a major overhaul, so he elected to test fly the airplane alone. After finding it ran satisfactory, he and his student took off for an instructional flight. At an altitude of 100 feet, there was a "noticeable change in the airplane's ability to climb". The engine RPM had "dropped to 2,100". The CFI stated he intended to reach a safe altitude and then return to the departure airport. But, the RPM was steadily decreasing, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The CFI took control of the airplane and landed the airplane straight ahead, in the trees, approximately 1000 feet from the end of the runway. Both occupants evacuated the airplane. After waiting a short time, the CFI returned to the airplane and called the airport for assistance.
The pilot reported no mechanical difficulties with the airplane.
The atmospheric conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7294F
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-25209
- Airframe hours
- 9,279
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Stephen Aldred
- Registered owner
- F.M. Spears
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 5, 1997 · 5 hours before
- Airport
- TGC · Gibson County Airport, runway 19, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 49
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 20 in this make and model · 3,000 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MEM, 80 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.