# NTSB CHI94DET02: Simcox Sport Trainer, N6881M, Laporte, IN, September 26, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: September 26, 1994, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Laporte, IN - Coordinates: 41.599723, -86.709762 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5997&lon=-86.7098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94DET02 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9351/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94DET02 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION WITH A KNOWN POWER DEFICIENCY. THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN THE MISHAP AIRPLANE AND FLEW AROUND THE PATTERN SEVERAL TIMES AND LANDED. HE REPORTED TO THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE HE COULD ONLY GET 2200 RPM OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE PILOT THEN TOOK OFF IN THE AIRPLANE AGAIN AND FLEW AROUND THE PATTERN. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT MADE A LANDING APPROACH WHICH APPEARED TO BE FAST AND RESULTED IN A GO-AROUND AND A CLIMBING LEFT HAND TURN. DURING THE CLIMBING LEFT HAND TURN ENGINE RPM WAS REPORTED TO STEADILY DECREASE. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE LEFT HAND TURN IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE HIT SOME TREES DURING APPROACH AND CRASHED IN A DRIVEWAY ADJACENT TO THE AIRSTRIP. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOUND NO ANOMALY TO PRECLUDE NORMAL OPERATION. THE TEMPERATURE/ DEW POINT WERE 62 F/50 F, RESPECTIVELY. THIS TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT COMBINATION FALLS IN THE AREA OF CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING. THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE 'ON' POSITION. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 26, 1994, about 1645 eastern standard time, a Simcox Sport Trainer, N6881M, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during a forced landing at a private airstrip near La Porte, Indiana. The air transport rated pilot received minor injuries. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported the airplane experienced a loss of power while maneuvering near the airport. The airplane was headed toward the airport when the landing was made in a wooded area. This was the second flight for the airplane and the mishap pilot. The first flight was conducted a few minutes before the mishap flight. The pilot flew around the pattern a few times, landed, and told the owner he was only able to get 2200 rpm from the engine. The pilot then departed on the mishap flight. Witnesses reported the airplane circled the airport, and approached as if to land. The witnesses reported the approach seemed to be a little fast. The airplane flew over the runway and pulled up in a climbing left hand turn. The witnesses reported the engine rpm gradually decreased during the left hand turn. The pilot stated the engine lost power without hesitation or roughness. A steady loss of rpm. The pilot attempted to make it back to the airstrip, but brushed some trees during the approach and landed in the owner's driveway adjacent to the airstrip. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The pilot reported clear skies and light and variable winds at the accident site. The closest recording observation station was South Bend, Indiana, located approximately 20 miles northeast of the accident site. The temperature/dew point recorded at 1650 was temperature 62 degrees F/ dew point 50 degrees F. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane and engine were examined at the crash site. The carburetor assembly was broken off the intake manifold, but the carburetor bowl contained fuel. The gascolator was broken open and the fuel it contained leaked out on the ground. The carburetor inlet screen and gascolator screen were clean. Spark plugs, valve train operation, magnetos, ignition harness, compression, freedom of rotation of the engine were checked at the scene. All components appeared to operate normally. The carburetor heat control was in the full ON position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6881M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6881M), registered now, S/N 00001, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SIMCOX SPORT TRAINER (SPORT TRAI) - Registry model: [Simcox Norman SPORT TRAINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/simcox-norman-sport-trainer) (registry code 0569187) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0001 - Engines: CONTINENTAL A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Norman B. Simcox - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, June 20, 1994 - Airport: NONE, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SBN, 20 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 19940926034829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940926034829A), Sep 26, 1994: Overld SPORTTRAINER, Laporte, IN, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Turned back. Stall mushed to hard ground impact clearing trees. Power loss undetermined. 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.