# NTSB FTW02LA163: Piper J-5, N38399, Greers Ferry, AR, May 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2002, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Greers Ferry, AR - Coordinates: 35.503055, -92.196662 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5031&lon=-92.1967&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54788 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54788/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54788 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA163 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the probability of carburetor ice. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - tree(s) ## Analysis Just after liftoff, the engine lost power. The pilot then tried to abort the takeoff by setting the aircraft back onto the runway. He decided to abort because of a perpendicular tree line located at the end of the runway. Subsequently, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and collided with trees and brush. The loss of engine power could not be determined, although the pilot suspected carburetor ice. According to information on a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, and the temperature/dewpoint in which the airplane was operating, a "serious icing" probability could have existed. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2002, approximately 1700 central daylight time, a Piper J-5 single-engine airplane, N38399, was substantially damaged when it struck trees during an aborted takeoff from a private airstrip near Greers Ferry Lake, Arkansas. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that just after liftoff, the engine lost power. He then tried to abort the takeoff by setting the aircraft back onto the runway. He decided to abort because of a perpendicular tree line located at the end of the runway. Subsequently, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and collided with trees and brush resulting in structural damage to the wing. The loss of engine power could not be determined, although the pilot suspected carburetor ice. According to information on a Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, and the temperature/dewpoint in which the airplane was operating, a "serious icing" probability could have existed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38399](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38399), registered now, S/N 5949, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J-5 - Registry model: [Piper J5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (registry code 7100702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5-947 - Airframe hours: 3300 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paul C. Cassel - Registered owner: Paul E. Cassel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2001, 20 hours before - Departed: NONE, Greers Ferry, AR - Destination: NONE, Greers Ferry, AR - Airport: NONE, Skypoint Private Strip, runway 26, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 1, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 29,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg ## 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 20020526038679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020526038679A), May 26, 2002: Piper J5A, Edgemont, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) Loss of power on takeoff. On may 26, 2002 at approximately 1700 local time, N38399 departed a private airstrip. At approximately 75 feet AGL, the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 10, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54788. 979 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 643 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 2, .PDF, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.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.