ATL99LA031

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28-140 · Aiken, SC · November 25, 1998

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 25, 1998, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
Place
Aiken, SC
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N3350TPiper PA-28-140
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 16, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19981125033179A
Case key
45428

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 pilot's failure to use carburetor heat properly. Contributing to the accident were the carburetor icing conditions.

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.

Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanicalDescent - normal
Weather condition - carburetor icing conditionsCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Object - tree(s)Factor
Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - flare/touchdown

Analysis

The pilot was enroute to Florida, and planned a refueling stop in South Carolina. During the descent from 8500 feet, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. Attempts by the pilot to restore full engine power failed. So he selected a field for an emergency landing, and while on final approach to land, the engine regained full power. At that point, the pilot elected to go-around. During the climbout phase of the go-around maneuver, the airplane collided with trees on the departure end of the proposed landing site. According to the pilot, the collision with the trees separated the left main landing gear assembly, and the right wing sustained substantial structural damage. The pilot flew the airplane to Aiken, South Carolina and after touchdown on runway 24, the airplane skidded off the left side of the runway. During the engine loss of power, weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

Factual narrative

On November 25, 1998, at 1300 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N3350T, collided with trees during a go-around from an emergency landing near Aiken, South Carolina. The personal cross country flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time the accident, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed from Suffolk, Virginia, at 0955.

The pilot reported that he was enroute to Crestview, Florida, and had planned a refueling stop in Saluda, South Carolina. During the descent from 8500 feet, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. Attempts, by the pilot, to restore full engine power failed. The pilot selected a field for an emergency landing, while on final approach to land, the engine regained full power. At that point, the pilot elected to go-around. During the climbout phase of the go-around maneuver, the airplane collided with trees on the departure end of the proposed landing site.

According to the pilot, the collision with the trees separated the left main landing gear assembly, and the right wing sustained substantial structural damage. The pilot flew the airplane to Aiken, South Carolina, and after touchdown on runway 24, the airplane skidded off the left side of the runway. During the engine loss of power, weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

Aircraft

Registration
N3350T
Reported as
Piper PA-28-140
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-7125377
Airframe hours
33,156
Engine
Lycoming 0320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
James W. Beauchamp
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 1, 1998 · 1,151 hours before
Departed
SFQ · Suffolk, VA
Destination
6J4 · Crestview, FL
Airport
AIK · Aiken, runway 24, 5,000 × 100 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
55
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
11,269 total · 1,914 in this make and model · 11,269 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
25° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
9,000 ft overcast
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
AGS, 22 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.

Other investigations on N3350T · 1

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