# NTSB SEA96LA003: Piper PA-28-235, N8845W, Mulino, OR, October 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 1995, 17:30 local (Oct 6, 1995, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Mulino, OR - Coordinates: 45.200191, -122.539367 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2002&lon=-122.5394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42298 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42298/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA003 ## Probable cause the failure of the pilots to use carburetor heat during a reduced power descent. A factor was the carburetor icing conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - improper use of, dual student (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private pilot/owner was making a reduced power descent in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, but without carburetor heat. After the engine lost power, he applied the carburetor heat and attempted to restart the engine. The pilot was unable to get the engine restarted and a forced landing was made in an open field. The airplane collided with trees at the edge of the field. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 1995, approximately 1730 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235, N8845W, impacted a tree during an attempted forced landing about one-quarter mile south of Mulino Airport, Mulino, Oregon. The certified flight instructor and the private pilot both received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight, which had been in the air approximately one hour, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the private pilot, who was the owner of the aircraft, the engine suddenly lost power while he was descending at less than cruise power. The power loss occured about five miles south of Mulino, and both pilots agreed they should try to glide to the airport at Mulino. While gliding toward Mulino, they unsuccessfully attempted to restart the aircraft's engine. As they neared Mulino Airport, they realized they did not have sufficient altitude to reach the airport, and therefore decided to attempt a landing in a field short of the airport. While attempting the emergency landing, the aircraft collided with a tree at the edge of the field. At the time of the accident, the nearest reported temperature and dew-point data was taken at Portland International Airport, about 40 miles north of Mulino. The temperature recorded at that time was 69 degrees fahrenheit, and the dew point was 44 degrees. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (DOT/FAA/CT- 82/44), the descent was taking place in conditions conducive to carburetor icing at both glide and cruise power (see attached chart). In a post-accident interview, the private pilot/owner said that at the time of the descent, he did not realize the aircraft was in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, and therefore had not applied carburetor heat until after the engine had lost power. Although only residual fuel was found in the tanks at the accident site, the fuel lines had been ruptured by the force of the impact, and the owner produced fuel receipts that showed the aircraft should have had at least an hour of fuel remaining at the time of the accident. After the accident, the engine was subjected to a teardown inspection, and no evidence of anomalies or malfunction was found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8845W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8845W-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 28-10396 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10396 - Airframe hours: 1862 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2-B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry R. Woody, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1995, 2 hours before - Departed: 3S2, AURORA, OR - Destination: 4S9, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F ## 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 19951005035789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951005035789A), Oct 5, 1995: Piper PA28235, Mulino, OR, Substantial damage. Lost power descending, unable to make airport, struck tree landing in field. Failed to use carb heat. Carb icing. ## Other investigations on N8845W (1) 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 DEN76DTE80](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76DTE80), Jul 1, 1976: Piper PA-28 (N8845W), Silver Cliff, CO, 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.