# NTSB BFO94LA076: Piper PA-28-160, N5855W, New Carlisle, OH, April 24, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 24, 1994, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: New Carlisle, OH - Coordinates: 39.940471, -84.020172 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9405&lon=-84.0202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8917 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8917/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA076 ## Probable cause The pilot's inattention to the mixture control which was inadvertently placed in the idle cut-off position by the passenger and resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor is the pilot's inadequate planning. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - mixture - inadvertent use, passenger (contributing factor) - mixture - inattentive, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - fence - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - roadway/highway ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND A 'SUDDEN LOSS OF ALTITUDE' ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. HE STATED THAT HE ADDED POWER, BUT COULD NOT 'GET ENOUGH POWER TO REACH THE RUNWAY.' THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, IMPACTING A FENCE AND AN ELEVATED ROAD. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE REASON THE ENGINE COULD NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH POWER WAS BECAUSE THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS ACCIDENTLY PULLED OUT FROM A HEAD SET CABLE. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE MIXTURE CONTROL DURING THE BASE AND FINAL APPROACH LEGS. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 1994, about 1530 hours eastern daylight time, N5855W, a Piper PA-28-160, operated by the owner/pilot, was substantially damaged during landing in New Carlisle, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from the New Carlisle Airport at 1500 hours and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, he entered the traffic pattern at the Barnhart Memorial Airport for a landing on a turf runway oriented along a magnetic bearing of 280 degrees. The pilot stated that he checked the mixture control, reduced power and began a turn onto the base leg. He again checked the mixture as he turned onto the final approach leg. The pilot further stated: [The] decent rate was normal and indicated airspeed was 80 to 85 [miles per hour]. Touchdown aim point looked good until strong turbulence was encountered about 200 feet [above ground level] with sudden loss of altitude.... I added power to ensure reaching the runway, or abort landing if necessary, but could not get enough power to reach the runway. According to FAA aviation safety inspectors, the airplane landed short of the runway, traveled thorough a fence, across an elevated road, shearing the nose and left landing gear, and came to rest in a field. An examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical discrepancies. In a written statement to the NTSB after the accident, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions. He also stated that the reason the engine did not produce power was because: The mixture control was apparently pulled out to cutoff position by a head set cable use by the 11 year old passenger in the right front seat. The cable was looped tightly about the mixture control knob. Turbulence and passenger movement possibly cause this. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5855W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5855W), registered now, S/N 28-2358, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-160) (registry code 7102806) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-2358 - Airframe hours: 4372 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Reichel, Roland J. - Registered owner: Reichel, Roland J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 1993, 57 hours before - Airport: I11, Barnhart Memorial ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 626 total, 521 in this make and model, 583 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAY, 7 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 19940424009239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940424009239A), Apr 24, 1994: Piper PA28160, New Carlisle, OH, Substantial damage. Low on approach, no power to make runway. Landed. Short. Ran thru fence. Passengers head set cord pulled mixture. 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.