CHI99LA246

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-24-180 · Boscobel, WI · July 20, 1999

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 20, 1999, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC)
Place
Boscobel, WI
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N6316PPiper PA-24-180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 22, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19990720009419A
Case key
46840

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's improper approach to landing. Factors included the carburetor icing, the delayed use of carburetor heat, the unsuitable terrain for landing, and the ditch.

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.

Loss of engine powerApproach - vfr pattern - downwind
Fuel system,carburetor - iceFactor
Carburetor heat - delayedPilot in commandFactor
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - ditchFactor
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encounteredPilot in commandFactor
Planned approach - improperPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The pilot reported that he had pulled the power back to 20 inches of manifold pressure for approximately two minutes to slow down so he could lower the landing gear. He pulled the carburetor heat on when he was abeam the runway numbers. The engine coughed and lost power, and he made an immediate turn to the runway. He checked that the fuel pump was on and he tried to pump the throttle, but it had no effect. He landed on the grass on the left side of the runway when he determined the airplane was going to land short of the runway. During the landing rollout, the airplane impacted the far side of a drainage ditch. The temperature and dew point spread of 80/70 degrees Fahrenheit put the airplane in the 'moderate icing-glide power' range according to the Aviation Safety Bureau Transport Canada guide for favorable icing conditions. When the airplane was inspected, the engine started and was run. No anomalies were noted.

Factual narrative

On July 20, 1999, at 1710 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180, N6316P, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Boscobel Airport, Boscobel, Wisconsin. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed Reedsburg, Wisconsin, at 1650 CDT with Boscobel as the final destination airport. The airplane was abeam the runway numbers when the engine coughed once and then quit. The private pilot landed the airplane in the grass that paralleled the left side of the runway. The airplane went into a drainage ditch and was subsequently damaged. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he had pulled on the carburetor heat when he was abeam the runway numbers. He reported the engine coughed and lost power, and he made an immediate turn to the runway. He checked to make sure the fuel pump was on. He tried to pump the throttle, but it had no effect. He reported he decided to land on the grass when he determined the airplane was going to land short of the runway. He reported that during landing rollout, the airplane crossed over a drainage ditch and impacted the far side of the ditch, substantially damaging the airplane.

The pilot reported that he had pulled the power back to 20 inches of manifold pressure to slow down so he could lower the landing gear. He reported that he had flown with 20 inches of manifold pressure for approximately two minutes prior to pulling on the carburetor heat.

The temperature and dew point spread of 80/70 degrees Fahrenheit put the airplane in the "moderate icing-glide power" range according to the Aviation Safety Bureau Transport Canada guide for favorable icing conditions.

The airplane was inspected. The engine started and was run. No anomalies were noted.

Aircraft

Registration
N6316P
Reported as
Piper PA-24-180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
24-1426
Airframe hours
3,592
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Circle G Flyers
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 1, 1998 · 126 hours before
Departed
C35 · Reedsburg, WI
Destination
47C · WI
Airport
OVS · Boscobel, runway 18, 3,700 × 58 ft, asphalt

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
46
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
395 total · 100 in this make and model · 316 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,200 ft broken
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
OVS

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.