# NTSB DFW06CA084: Piper PA-28-140, N5537F, Cherokee City, AR, March 15, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 15, 2006, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Cherokee City, AR - Coordinates: 36.1883333333333, -94.4872222222222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1883&lon=-94.4872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Little Rock, Arkansas - NTSB case key (mKey): 63346 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63346/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA084 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 75-hour private pilot/owner planned a simulated low-approach to an open area within his property where he was planning on building a grass airstrip. The pilot reported that he had no intention to land and had planned to execute a go-around and then continue his flight on to his intended destination. As the pilot approached the field to the south, he added one notch of flaps and retarded the throttle to idle. He did not apply carburetor heat. When the airplane was on final approach, at approximately 200 feet above the ground, the pilot added power to initiate the intended go-around; however, there was no response and power did not increase above idle speed. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and the airplane landed short of the field, colliding with a fence and tree stumps. The pilot stated that when the airplane first touched down, the engine regained full power but, he immediately pulled the power back to idle to prevent further damage. The pilot and the passenger were able to egress the airplane unassisted and were not injured. Both wings were reported to have sustained structural damage. According to the pilot, he had owned the airplane for approximately seven months and had no previous problems with the engine. At the time of the accident, the temperature was reported as 37 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 21 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason for the intermittent loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative The 75-hour private pilot/owner planned a simulated low-approach to an open area within his property where he was planning on building a grass airstrip. The pilot reported he had no intention to land and had planned to execute a go-around and then continue his flight on to his intended destination. As the pilot approached the field to the south, he added one notch of flaps and retarded the throttle to idle. He did not apply carburetor heat. When the airplane was on final approach, while at approximately 200 feet above the ground, the pilot added power to initiate the intended go-around; however, there was no response and power did not increase above idle speed. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and the airplane landed short of the field, colliding with a fence and tree stumps. The pilot stated that when the airplane first touched down, the engine regained full power but, he immediately pulled the power back to idle to prevent further damage. The pilot and the passenger were able to egress the airplane unassisted and were not injured. Both wings were reported to have sustained structural damage. According to the pilot, he had owned the airplane for approximately seven months and had no previous problems with the engine. At the time of the accident, the temperature was reported as 37 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 21 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason for the intermittent loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5537F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5537F-2008-05-14), registration cancelled 2008-05-14, S/N 28-24936, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-24936 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald Amos - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SLG, Siloam Springs, AR - Destination: GMJ, Grove, OK - Airport: NONE, None, runway 19 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 75 total, 66 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: 7 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 20060315003599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060315003599A), Mar 15, 2006: Piper PA28140, Gentry, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On Wednesday March 15, 2006 at approximately 0620 the pilot [privacy data omitted] departed slg in his pa 28 cherokee 140 enroute to gmj. On the way to… ## Other investigations on N5537F (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA77DKJ12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77DKJ12), Jan 16, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N5537F), Wetumpka, AL, substantial damage 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.