# NTSB BFO94LA004: Piper PA-28-161, N8223T, Manassas, VA, November 8, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 1993, 10:38 local (15:38 UTC) - Place: Manassas, VA - Location: 38.7230° N, 77.4969° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from Washington Manassas Harry P. Davis Field (HEF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7230&lon=-77.4969&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8864/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA004 ## Probable cause The loss of total engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the lack of suitable terrain to enable the completion of a power-off forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis WHILE ON THE AIRPORT'S BASE LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING TO A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE'S GLIDE DID NOT ALLOW IT TO MAKE THE FIELD AND IT COLLIDED WITH A TREE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO BOTH WING SPARS AND WING STRUCTURE. THE PROPELLER BLADES WERE ALSO BENT AFT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATIONS OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND NO ANOMALIES WERE NOTED. ## Factual narrative On Monday, November 8, 1993, at 1038 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8223T, owned and operated by Dulles Aviation located in Manassas, Virginia, and piloted by Eduardo A. Bonacic-Doric of Vienna, Virginia, lost total engine power while in the Manassas Airport's traffic pattern. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he was cleared to land the airplane on runway 16R. He stated that there was a Cessna 152 that was cleared to land before his airplane, so he extended the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The pilot stated, "When I turned into base leg I reduced the power after applying hot air to the carburetor. The engine quit running and I reported to the tower that I was in [an] emergency [situation] and [was trying] to reach the runway, but [because] I did not have enough altitude to reach the runway, I tried to land on a 70 yards long piece of land." The pilot stated that during the emergency descent, the airplane contacted a tree prior to touchdown. The pilot said that the airplane touched down and rolled into trees which stopped the airplane. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the fuel tanks were full and no fuel contaminates were found. The fuel selector was positioned on the left fuel tank. The mixture and throttle were in the full aft position. According to a Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector, the pilot reported to him that once the airplane came to rest, "...I [the pilot] shut everything off prior to exiting the airplane." The accident was located about one quarter mile north of the airport. The airplane sustained damage to both wing leading edges and wing spars. The right fuel tank was breached. The propeller blades were bent aft and the bottom of the fuselage was damaged. Fuel was drained from each wing fuel tank for safe transport back to the airport. The airplane was removed from the accident site and stored in a hangar at the Manassas Airport. Fuel was put back into the airplane's left fuel tank and the engine was started. The engine ran at full power and at idle. The left and right magneto's were selected and a reduction in engine revolutions per minute was observed. No engine anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8223T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8223T), registered now, S/N 28-8216170, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8216170 - Airframe hours: 5750 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dulles Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Dulles Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 1993, 34 hours before - Airport: HEF, Manassas Municipal Arpt, runway 16R, 3,703 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,599 total, 96 in this make and model, 6,599 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HEF, 1 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 19931108044289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931108044289A), Nov 8, 1993: Piper PA28161, Manassas, VA, Substantial damage. Lost power on base leg. Tried for field but hit a tree on final. No engine anomalies found. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.