# NTSB BFO96LA016: Ryan Navion A3, N116JM, Mccomb, OH, November 7, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 7, 1995, 10:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Mccomb, OH - Coordinates: 41.099349, -83.779357 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0993&lon=-83.7794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9109 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9109/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA016 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, and carburetor Ice, which resulted in loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing. The carburetor icing (weather) condition was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 600 feet above the ground, when the engine lost power. He chose a field in front of the airplane for a forced landing, and the airplane touched down between 50 and 60 MPH. The pilot reported that when he applied brakes after touchdown, the airplane began to slide. Subsequently, it went across a road, impacted trees, and came to rest in a creek bed. The pilot stated that the airplane's engine restarted during the landing roll. No preimpact mechanical failure was found. The pilot stated that he believed the loss of engine power was the result of carburetor icing. The temperature and dew point were 44 and 42 degrees F, respectively. Icing probability charts showed that conditions were conducive for carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On Tuesday, November 7, 1995, at 1035 eastern standard time, a Ryan "Navion" A3, N116JM, struck several trees and a creek bed following a forced landing near McComb, Ohio. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Henry County, Ohio, at approximately 1015, with an intended destination of Marion, Ohio. During postaccident interviews, the pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at about 600 feet above the ground, when the engine lost power. The pilot stated that he "...put the [carburetor] heat back on, [the landing] gear down, the fuel pump on, and picked out a field." He reported that the airplane touched down "...under control..." at about 60 knots, but it started to slide towards a building when he applied the brakes. The pilot reported that he swerved to avoid the building, and the airplane crossed a road (State Road 613), a field, then struck several trees and came to rest in a creek bed. The pilot reported that during the forced landing the "...brakes were ineffective, [the] engine restarted which allowed [the] airplane to miss a building and hop over a road." The straight line distance from the initial touchdown point to State Road 613, as measured by the Ohio State Police, is 1,667 feet. The distance from the point where the airplane entered the highway to the point where the airplane came to rest is an additional 991 feet. One witness stated that the "...airplane [appeared to be] trying to take off. [The] tail was dragging, but if he had a couple more RPM, he would have taken off." Another witness stated that "...he kept trying to take off, but couldn't, because he kept dragging his tail. He kept on going up and down." A third witness estimated that the airplane was traveling about "...40 to 50 [miles per hour] across the road..." and stated that the airplane engine was "...roaring." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the airplane's ground track, stated that there was "...no evidence of braking." Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly. The pilot stated that he believed that the loss of engine power was the result of carburetor icing. A carburetor icing probability chart prepared by the FAA is appended. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N116JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N116JM-1998-10-06), registration cancelled 1998-10-06, S/N NAV41570 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ryan NAVION A3 - Registry model: [Ryan NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-navion-a) (registry code 6150162) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4-1570 - Engines: Continental E-185-9 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul H. Langenkamp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 11, 1994, 104 hours before - Departed: OH17, HENRY COUNTY, OH - Destination: MNN, MARION MUNI, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FDY, 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 19951107036269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951107036269A), Nov 7, 1995: Tmpson NAVIONA, Mccomb, OH, Destroyed. Lost power en route. Started during forced landing allowed hopping over road no anomalies. Hit trees power on. (-23) aircraft was flying at low altitude, light… 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.