# NTSB ERA18LA243: Piper PA12, N3415M, Cochranton, PA, September 1, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 1, 2018, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Cochranton, PA - Coordinates: 41.525207, -80.14847 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5252&lon=-80.1485&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98239 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98239/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98239 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA243 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had been flying for about 30 minutes when the engine lost total power. He flew the airplane toward a clearing for a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Although weather conditions at the accident site were conducive to the formation of carburetor ice at cruise power settings, the pilot provided conflicting statements regarding his use of carburetor heat, and whether carburetor icing played a role in the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2018, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N3415M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cochranton, Pennsylvania. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was flying for about 30 minutes when the engine lost total power. He attempted to return to the airport, but was unable to maintain altitude. He looked for a clearing to land in, and as he approached an open field, the airplane collided with a tree. The airplane then impacted terrain and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed buckling throughout the airframe. Crankshaft continuity was confirmed from the propeller hub to the accessory section of the engine. Thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders, and the magnetos generated spark. In a statement to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat at the time of the event. In the pilot's report to the NTSB, the pilot reported that he did use carburetor heat at the time of the event. Weather conditions at the departure airport, located about 10 miles south of the accident site, included wind from 180° at 3 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 3,800 ft above ground level, temperature 27°C, and dew point 21°C. When plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point indicated the potential for carburetor icing at cruise power and serious icing at the glide power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3415M (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA12 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12-2265 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 1045 - Engines: Lycoming 41505 /O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 14, 2018 - Departed: GKU, Meadville, PA - Destination: GKU, Meadville, PA - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,650 total, 100 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: GKJ, 10 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 20180901012849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180901012849A), Sep 1, 2018: Piper PA-12, Greenwood, PA, Destroyed. On 09-01-18 at approximately 1300 local, N3415M departed meadville airport, PA (gkj). After a period of time, before turning northwest towards meadville… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98239. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9137015&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_1%20Form%20LA243_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record FAA airframe and engine examination (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9136325&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20examination%20summary%20%20LA243-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9193591&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Observations%20LA243-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 405 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9180329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA243-Rel.pdf 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.