- Date
- May 15, 2010, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Sandwich, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N22394Piper J3C-65
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20100515035839A
- Case key
- 76027
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 delay in using carburetor heat resulting in a partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff while maneuvering approximately 100 feet above ground level, the airplane's engine lost partial power or "bogged down." The pilot said that he applied power; however, the engine did not respond. He scanned the engine gauges and no anomalies were noted. He said that he then applied carburetor heat; however, he did not have much time as he was about to land. He elected to perform a forced landing to a wet/muddy field. During the landing, the airplane impacted the terrain and nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing at cruise power.
Factual narrative
Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff while maneuvering approximately 100 feet above ground level, the engine lost partial power or "bogged down." The pilot applied throttle; however, the engine did not respond. He scanned the engine gauges and no anomalies were noted. The pilot then applied carburetor heat; however, "did not have much time as we were about to land..." The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a wet/muddy field. During the landing, the airplane impacted the terrain and nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing at cruise power. Examination of the airplane revealed the vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N22394
- Reported as
- Piper J3C-65
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20043
- Airframe hours
- 4,120.9
- Engine
- Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Steven L. Miller
- Registered owner
- Steven L. Miller
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 6, 2009
- Departed
- 0C8 · Newark, IL
- Destination
- DKB · DeKalb, IL
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
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 16, 2009
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 393 total · 16 in this make and model · 327 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 594 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.