# NTSB NYC04LA187: Piper PA-24-180, N6311P, Phillipsburg, PA, August 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2004, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Phillipsburg, PA - Coordinates: 40.884166, -78.087219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8842&lon=-78.0872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 59860 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59860/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA187 ## Probable cause A loss of partial engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis After completing the warm-up and ground checks, the airplane departed from a 5,711-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During the initial climb, about 400 feet above the ground, the engine lost partial power, and the airplane began to descend. Suspecting that carburetor icing was present, the pilot applied carburetor heat. A few seconds later, the airplane impacted the ground, coming to rest about 1/4-mile from the end of the runway. The pilot additionally stated that he had experienced a similar problem with the engine losing partial power a few flights prior to the accident; however, it was an isolated event, and he attributed it to possibly being carburetor icing. The engine was test ran by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector after the accident, with no abnormalities noted. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2004, at 1745 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-180, N6311P, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after departing from the Mid-State Airport (PSB), Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the accident flight was the first flight of the day and the fuel tanks were full. After completing the warm-up and ground checks, the airplane departed from runway 34, a 5,711-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During the initial climb, about 400 feet above the ground, the engine lost partial power, and the airplane began to descend. Suspecting that carburetor icing was present, the pilot applied carburetor heat. A few seconds later, the airplane impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest about 1/4-mile from the end of the runway. The pilot additionally stated that he had experienced a similar problem with the engine losing partial power a few flights prior to the accident; however, it was an isolated event, and he attributed it to possibly being carburetor icing. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage after the accident. He observed substantial damage to both wings, and the forward fuselage. The inspector did not observe any anomalies with the flight or engine controls. The engine was test ran by the FAA inspector after the accident, with no abnormalities noted. The weather reported at the airport, at 1755, included winds from 240 degrees at 4 knots, clear skies, a temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit, a dew point of 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches Hg. The density altitude calculated for the time of the accident was approximately 3,749 feet. A review of a FAA carburetor icing probability chart placed the reported temperature and dew point in the "serious icing at glide power" area of the chart. According to documents obtained during the investigation, a weight and balance was calculated for the flight, which estimated the aircraft weight as approximately 2,521 pounds. According to the PA-24-180 Owner's Handbook, the maximum gross weight was 2,550 pounds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6311P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6311P-2017-06-14), registration cancelled 2017-06-14, S/N 24-1421, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1421 - Airframe hours: 6000 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael T. Brobeck - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2004, 50 hours before - Departed: PSB, Phillipsburg, PA - Airport: PSB, Mid-State Airport, runway 34, 5,711 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 120 total, 80 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PSB ## 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 20040803026919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040803026919A), Aug 3, 2004: Piper PA24, Philipsburg, PA, Destroyed. (-23) N6311P departed runway 35 at phillipsburg mid-State airport at approximately 2145Z. After the aircraft became airborne off of runway 34 the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N6311P (2) 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 DEN70F0011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN70F0011), Jun 19, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N6311P), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI67D0394](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67D0394), Nov 6, 1966: Piper PA-24 (N6311P), Greensburg, KY, 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.