# NTSB NYC90LA133: Piper PA-22-135, N3393A, Franklin Center, PA, June 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 1990, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Franklin Center, PA
- Coordinates: 39.919033, -75.419837 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9190&lon=-75.4198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36665
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36665/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA133

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A FORCED LANDING WHICH RESTULED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.

## 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 - base leg/base to final
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE WAS ON BASE LEG ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT WHEN CARBURETOR HEAT WAS APPLIED. THE ENGINE SURGED AND THEN LOST POWER, AND WAS NOT RESTARTED. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND IMPACTED IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE TEMPERATURE 11 MILES AWAY WAS RECORDED AT 89 DEGREES F AND THE DEWPOINT AT 68 DEGREES F.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3393A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3393A-2000-09-05), registration cancelled 2000-09-05, S/N 22-1651 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1651
- Airframe hours: 2000
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael J. Surovick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1989, 13 hours before
- Airport: 96PA, Franklin Center

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft unknown
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ERI, 11 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 19900617021069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900617021069A), Jun 17, 1990: Piper PA22135, Cranesville, PA, Substantial damage. Failed to use carb heat for landing engine quit. Stalled and spun in.

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.