# NTSB NYC02LA116: Piper PA-28-160, N5369W, Huron, OH, June 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2002, 21:00 local (Jun 18, 2002, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Huron, OH - Coordinates: 41.402221, -82.600555 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4022&lon=-82.6006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54992 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54992/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54992 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA116 ## Probable cause The dual student's inadvertent shutdown of the engine and the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - engine shutdown - inadvertent, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot was in the left seat, and the flight instructor was in the right seat. The airplane was about 1 mile from the runway, in a glide, when the flight instructor asked the student pilot to turn on the landing lights and navigation beacon. A few seconds later, the flight instructor asked the student pilot to add power. The student pilot answered that he was adding power, but that the engine was not responding. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and switched fuel tanks, but the engine still did not respond. The flight instructor then performed a forced landing to a field off to his right. The field was part of a tree farm, and the airplane struck 35-40 saplings before coming to a stop. After the airplane came to a stop, the flight instructor performed the shutdown procedures. When he attempted to turn off the magneto switch, he found it was already in the "OFF" position. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed aviation fuel in both tanks, and the engine was subsequently operated through all ignition switch positions without any anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2002, about 2100 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-160, N5369W, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while approaching Hinde Airport (88D), Huron, Ohio. The certificated flight instructor and the non-certificated student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot flew to Norwalk-Huron County Airport (5A1), Norwalk, Ohio, for landing practice, then returned to Hinde Airport. When the airplane was on final approach, about 1 mile to runway 11, "a glide was started." The flight instructor asked the student pilot to turn on the landing lights and navigation beacon, to make the airplane more visible to other aircraft in the area. A few seconds later, the flight instructor asked the student pilot to add power. The student pilot answered that he was, but that the engine was not responding. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and switched fuel tanks, but the engine still did not respond. The flight instructor then performed a forced landing to a field off to his right. The field was part of a tree farm, and during the process, the airplane hit 35-40, 1 1/2-inch saplings before coming to a stop. After the airplane came to a stop, the flight instructor performed the shutdown procedures. When he attempted to turn off the magneto switch, he found it was already in the "OFF" position. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, when questioned the following day, the student pilot could not remember if he had switched the magnetos to OFF. Another inspector subsequently examined the airplane, and found the left fuel tank to be 5/8 full, and the right tank 1/2 full. A fuel sample was taken, and found to be blue in color. Other inspectors replaced the airplane's damaged propeller, and started the engine during the first attempt. The engine then operated "normally" in the "right", "left" and "both" ignition switch positions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5369W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5369W-2013-04-09), registration cancelled 2013-04-09, S/N 28-434, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-434 - Airframe hours: 5525 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: John M. Mclarty - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 2002, 1.5 hours before - Departed: 88D, Huron, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 64; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 8, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 22,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 21,800 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: none; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 150° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: CLE, 35 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 20020617038289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020617038289A), Jun 17, 2002: Piper PA28*, Huron, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructor and student, age 65 and 66, were performing takeoffs and landings. Winds were light and weather was VFR. The student, whose medical was denied… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54992. 606 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Observations (item 2, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Observations-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.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.