- Date
- August 10, 2003, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place
- Palmyra, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N246ANNicoson Antares MA-33
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030810023219A
- Case key
- 57708
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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot misjudging the descent rate during the forced landing, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the desired landing area. A factor to the accident was the fence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence during a forced landing, following a reported loss of engine power. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 1,000 feet above ground level, he increased engine power and then the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot stated he "misjudged the rate of descent and landed short of the pasture and hit a fence." An examination of the engine confirmed continuity throughout the engine. The electrical ignition system was functional and both carburetor bowls contained fuel. The propeller was removed and the engine was prepared for a test run. The engine started and ran at idle power without anomalies. A full throttle engine run was not performed, due to the lack of the propeller, however, the engine did respond to momentary throttle inputs.
Factual narrative
On August 10, 2003, at 0745 central daylight time, an amateur-built Nicoson Antares MA-33, N246AN, owned and operated by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted a fence during a forced landing near Palmyra, Wisconsin. The pilot reported a loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was being operated without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed East Troy Municipal Airport, East Troy, Wisconsin, at 0720 and had the intended destination of Palmyra Airport, Palmyra, Wisconsin.
According to the pilot's written statement, the "takeoff and climb were normal. While in cruise at [approximately] 1000 [feet above ground level], power was applied to begin climb and the engine quit. During the forced landing I misjudged the rate of descent and landed short of the pasture and hit a fence."
An examination of the engine by the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed continuity throughout the engine. The electrical ignition system was functional and both carburetor bowls contained fuel. The propeller was removed and the engine was prepared for a test run. The engine was started and ran at idle power without anomalies. A full throttle engine run was not performed, due to the lack of the propeller, however, the engine did respond to momentary throttle inputs.
The pilot reported no other mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N246AN
- Reported as
- Nicoson Antares MA-33
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- NIC001
- Engine
- Rotax 582 Mod 99, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Alan E. Nicoson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 57C · East Troy, WI
- Destination
- 88C · Palmyra, WI
- Airport
- 88C · Palmyra Municipal Airport, runway 09, 2,800 × 200 ft, grass/turf
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
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- February 21, 2003
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 20 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- BUU, 17 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.