- Date
- September 23, 1990, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Franconia, NH
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2770MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900923046819A
- Case key
- 36743
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The landing of the airplane in unsuitable terrain, due to the mechanical failure of the engine center muffler baffle, which blocked the exhaust flow, resulting in a loss of power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was on a sightseeing trip cruising at 1500' when, according to the pilot, 'a backfire was heard and the aircraft experienced partial power loss. Sufficient power was not available for continued flight. An emergency landing was made in the trees.' A maintenance facility examined the engine and found the center muffler baffle had broken loose and had blocked the exhaust flow. This resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2770M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1468-15
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- North Country Flying Service
- Airport
- 1B5 · Franconia
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 12,410 total · 1,140 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.