- Date
- September 20, 1996, 14:06 local (19:06 UTC)
- Place
- Kearney, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N25920Piper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report December 23, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960920045619A
- Case key
- 10397
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 improper use of carburetor heat, which resulted in a reduction of engine power and subsequent collision with the terrain, during a forced landing.
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 impacted terrain just after departure from a private airport. The pilot told investigators that he had left the carburetor heat on during the takeoff. The spark plugs were black with combustion deposits.
Factual narrative
On September 20, 1996, at 1406 central daylight time a Piper PA-38-112, N25920, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain after departing the private airport. The pilot told inspectors that he departed with carburetor heat applied and was unable to maintain a climb. The pilot reported no injuries. The accident occurred at a private airport near Kearney, Missouri. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with the intended destination of Polo, Missouri.
The airplane's last annual inspection was on March 2, 1995. The pilot could not establish his most recent biennial flight review. His most recent medical examination was on June 21, 1994.
On examination the spark plugs were found to be black with combustion deposits. The primer was found unlocked.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N25920
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-81A0082
- Airframe hours
- 6,584
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William A. Dunlap
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 2, 1995 · 97 hours before
- Departed
- 20MO
- Destination
- 37MO · Polo, MO
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
- 66
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 10 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KMC, 12 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.
Other investigations on N25920 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.