# NTSB CHI07LA096: Alon A2, N992DC, Ravenna, OH, March 28, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 2007, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Ravenna, OH - Coordinates: 41.2, -81.2513888888889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2000&lon=-81.2514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65501/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in cruise flight. Carburetor icing conditions and a ditch were factors. ## 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) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the fuel tanks were filled at the departure airport. His accident report, in part, stated, "Engine quit - tried to restart engine but failed - Passenger who is an airline pilot with more experience asked for permission to assume [pilot in command], which I consented. We radioed [approach control] of our dilemma and for a heading to the nearest airport ... - we landed 1 mile short of [the closest airport] in a field where we hit a ditch, impacting hard, spun around and came to an abrupt stop." An examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The carburetor heat was found in the off position. Weather about 51 minutes prior to the accident was: Wind 050 degrees at 12 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 14 degrees C; dew point 1 degree C; altimeter 30.27 inches of mercury. Weather about 9 minutes after the accident was: Wind 040 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 12 degrees C; dew point -1 degree C; altimeter 30.30 inches of mercury. The local temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were plotted on a Transport Canada carburetor-icing chart. Their intersection fell in the serious icing-descent power area. Neither the pilot nor the pilot rated passenger's written accident reports listed the use of carburetor heat. The pilot was asked in a telephone interview about it and he reported that carburetor heat was used during the forced landing. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 2007, about 1945 eastern daylight time, an Alon A2, N992DC, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power during cruise near Ravenna, Ohio. The personal flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and pilot rated passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The flight originated from the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport (YNG), near Vienna, Ohio, about 1930, and was destined for the Akron Fulton International Airport (AKR), near Akron, Ohio. Transcripts from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approach control frequency for the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) showed that the flight contacted approach about 1939 and the pilot requested flight following. About 1940, the pilot requested a heading to the nearest airport and reported a loss of engine power. About 1941, the flight was given a heading for the Portage County Airport and the pilot reported that the airplane was at 3,500 feet above mean sea level. About 1943, the pilot reported that the fuel tanks were full. About 1945, the pilot stated, "two delta charlie is going to have to put into a field." The pilot reported that the fuel tanks were filled at YNG. His accident report, in part, stated: Requested flight following from CAK - ... engine quit - tried to restart engine but failed - Passenger who is an airline pilot with more experience asked for permission to assume [pilot in command], which I consented. We radioed CAK of our dilemma and for a heading to the nearest airport which was 29G - we landed 1 mile short of 29G in a field where we hit a ditch, impacting hard, spun around and came to an abrupt stop. FAA inspectors examined the wreckage. No pre-impact anomalies were detected. The carburetor heat was found in the off position. At 1854, the recorded weather at AKR was: Wind 050 degrees at 12 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 14 degrees C; dew point 1 degree C; altimeter 30.27 inches of mercury. At 1954, the recorded weather at AKR was: Wind 040 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 12 degrees C; dew point -1 degree C; altimeter 30.30 inches of mercury. The local temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were plotted on a Transport Canada carburetor-icing chart. Their intersection fell in the serious icing-descent power area. Neither the pilot nor the pilot rated passenger's written accident reports listed the use of carburetor heat. The pilot was asked in a telephone interview about it and he reported that carburetor heat was used during the forced landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N992DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N992DC-2007-08-02), registration cancelled 2007-08-02, S/N A-210, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Alon A2 - Registry model: [Alon A2](https://openairdocs.org/model/alon-a2) (registry code 0540102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A-210 - Airframe hours: 1237.33 - Engines: Continental C90-16F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2006, 25 hours before - Departed: YNG, Vienna, OH - Destination: AKR, AKRON, OH - Airport: AKR, Akron Fulton Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 297 total, 203 in this make and model, 297 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 30; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 6,649 total, 153 in this make and model, 1,318 as pilot in command, 201 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: AKR, 14 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 20070328019409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070328019409A), Mar 28, 2007: Alon A2, Ravenna, OH, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft departed youngstown (yng) at approximately 1950 for akron (akr). At 4500' the engine quit. It was able to be restarted but it sputtered and quit… 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.