# NTSB NYC01LA226: Murray JN4-D, N176TP, Morrisdale, PA, September 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 2001, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Morrisdale, PA - Coordinates: 41.009082, -78.219024 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0091&lon=-78.2190&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53477 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53477/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA226 ## Probable cause Failure of the ignition coil, which resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor was the 10-foot corn in the forced landing field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - ignition system,ignition coil - failure,total (cause) - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis Once the airplane was on the runway, the pilot advanced the throttle, the engine responded, and within 300 feet the airplane was airborne. After tracking runway heading for about 1/2 mile, the pilot turned the airplane into the wind to improve climb performance. "Shortly" after completing the turn, and while approximately 400 feet agl, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed, and executed a 180-degree turn to maneuver for a cornfield that was behind the airplane. Because of some power lines bordering the field, the pilot elected to proceed directly to it and land with a tailwind. The pilot flew the airplane just above the field, trading airspeed to maintain altitude. When the airplane started to stall, the pilot let it settle into the field. The left wing contacted the corn, which was 10 feet tall. The airplane's nose dropped, and the airplane impacted the ground nose low. The airplane came to a stop upright, and both occupants exited. The engine was from a 1986 Subaru that was involved in an automobile accident. The engine had approximately 9,000 miles on it at the time of the automobile accident, and 93.6 flight hours in the accident airplane. Examination of the engine revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions except for a defective ignition coil. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 2001, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt replica of a Jenny, N176TP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Morrisdale, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed the Albert Airport (1NS), Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he kept the airplane at a private airstrip near Kylertown, Pennsylvania. He arrived at the airstrip about 1330 on the day of the accident. He preflighted the airplane, and added approximately 3 gallons of fuel, bringing the total to approximately 8 gallons. He then boarded. The engine started on the first attempt, and the pilot taxied the airplane to the west runway for departure. Once on the runway, the pilot advanced the throttle, the engine responded, and after a ground-roll of approximately 300 feet, the airplane was airborne. The airplane climbed to approximately 800 feet agl, for the short trip to the Albert Airport. The pilot executed left traffic for the east runway. While on final, he did not feel the airplane was in a position to land because of a crosswind from the south, so he performed a go-around, and then made left traffic for a second attempt, which was successful. The airplane touched down and the pilot taxied to the far end of the airport to pick up a passenger. The pilot exited the airplane with the engine running. He then briefed and loaded his passenger. The pilot taxied the airplane for an easterly departure. Once on the runway he advanced the throttle. The engine responded, and within 300 feet the airplane was airborne. After tracking runway heading for about 1/2 mile, the pilot turned the airplane into the wind to improve climb performance. "Shortly" after completing the turn, and while approximately 400 feet agl, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed, and executed a 180-degree turn because the only forced landing area was a cornfield behind the airplane. While proceeding towards the cornfield, the pilot was concerned that the airplane might not clear some power lines bordering the field, so he elected to proceed directly to the field, and land with a tailwind. Once past the power lines, the pilot momentarily thought about trying to maneuver the airplane a little to reduce the tailwind component, but decided against it. The pilot flew the airplane just above the cornfield, trading airspeed to maintain altitude. When the airplane started to stall, the pilot let it settle into the cornfield. The left wing contacted the corn first, which was approximately 10 feet tall. The nose dropped and the airplane impacted the ground nose low, and left wing down. The airplane then spun 180 degrees to the left and came to a stop upright. The total distance from when the airplane first contacted the corn until it came to rest was approximately 60 feet. The engine was from a 1986 Subaru that was involved in an automobile accident. The engine had approximately 9,000 miles on it at the time of the automobile accident, and 93.6 flight hours in the accident airplane. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions except for a defective ignition coil. According to FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-27D, Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft, "the amateur-built program was designed to permit person(s) to build an aircraft solely for educational or recreational purposes. The FAA has always permitted amateur builders freedom to select their own designs. The FAA does not formally approve these designs since it is not practicable to develop design standards for the multitude of unique design configurations generated by kit manufacturers and amateur builders." It also stated, "Since 1983, FAA inspections of amateur-built aircraft have been limited to ensuring the use of acceptable workmanship methods, techniques, practices, and issuing operating limitations necessary to protect persons and property not involved in this activity." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N176TP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N176TP-2004-02-02), registration cancelled 2004-02-02, S/N 322A, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Murray JN4-D - Registry model: [Murray Blair L JN4D JENNY REPLICA](https://openairdocs.org/model/murray-blair-l-jn4d-jenny-replica) (registry code 05605K8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 322A - Airframe hours: 93 - Engines: Subaru 70 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Blair L. Murray - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 1N3, PHILIPSBURG, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 15, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 546 total, 94 in this make and model, 474 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: UNV, 22 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 20010909025819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010909025819A), Sep 9, 2001: Kylertown, PA, No damage. (-23) On 09/09/01, at 1400, N176TP, an experimental JN4D, made an emergency landing in a corn field after experiencing an engine failure. The aircraft received… 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.