# NTSB BFO94LA154: Piper PA-18, N720PC, Montpelier, VT, August 28, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1994, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Montpelier, VT - Location: 44.2664° N, 72.5715° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montpelier, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2664&lon=-72.5715&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8974 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8974/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA154 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR REASONS UNDETERMINED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, landing - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL FOR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 23, HE REDUCED POWER. HE STATED THAT AS HE CONTINUED HIS APPROACH HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE STATED THAT HE THROTTLED FORWARD THREE MORE TIMES BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE CHECKED AND VERIFIED THAT THE MIXTURE AND CARBURETOR HEAT WERE PROPERLY SET. HE STATED THAT HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO INCREASE THE AIRPSEED SO HE COULD FLARE ABOVE POWER LINES THAT WERE IN HIS PATH, BUT THE GEAR STRUCK THE LINES AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING HIS FLIGHT EARLIER HE HAD USED THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND IT WAS OPERATIONAL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 71 AND 59 DEGREES F, RESPECTIVELY AND ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS THESE CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICING. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 1994, at 1045 eastern daylight time, N720PC, a Piper PA-18, operated by James Bond of Barre, Vermont, collided with power lines during landing on runway 23 at Montpelier Airport, Montpelier, Vermont. The pilot received minor injuries while the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local, personal flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, he was returning from a local flight and he entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 23. He reported that on base leg, " I cut power back to 800-900 rpm's across from the numbers and turned airplane to glide at 70mph. Turned base a quarter mile beyond numbers and then final. With a quarter headwind from left I applied power only to find there was no power available. I tried 2-3 times....checked mixture, carburetor heat, fuel gages and switches." The pilot stated that he pushed the nose forward to build up the airspeed and that during the landing the airplane's landing gear struck power lines about a quarter mile from the airport and the airplane fell to the ground. The pilot reported that he used carburetor heat when he was flying around earlier. He stated that there was no mechanical malfunction and, "I hoped to flare above power lines and hoped for a soft landing in rough, rolling grass." The temperature and dew point were 71 and 59 degrees F respectively. According to carburetor icing charts (see attachments), conditions were conducive to carburetor ice. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N720PC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N720PC), registered now, S/N 18-5177, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5177 - Airframe hours: 110 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James G Bond - Registered owner: James G Bond - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 25, 1994, 9 hours before - Departed: MPV, VT - Destination: MPV, VT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 538 total, 231 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 14 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MPV, 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 19940828023799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940828023799A), Aug 28, 1994: Piper PA18, Barre Montpelie, VT, Substantial damage. Collided with power lines landing on runway 23. On final tried add power to clear but carburetor icing was present. 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.