- Date
- August 5, 1996, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Astoria, OR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2564MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 23, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960805020869A
- Case key
- 42436
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
failure of the carburetor heat box flapper valve, and the resultant air flow restriction to the carburetor. A factor relating to the accident was: high vegetation in the area where the forced landing was executed.
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
During the initial climb after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of engine power at about 200 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot maneuvered the aircraft to a forced landing in high vegetation, where it received substantial damage during touchdown. An inspection of the engine revealed that the carburetor heat box flapper valve had broken off and was restricting air flow in the carburetor throat.
Factual narrative
On August 5, 1996, approximately 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N2564M, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing into high vegetation following a total loss of power during the initial climb after takeoff from the Astoria Airport, Astoria, Oregon. The pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and was destined for Troutdale, Oregon. The ELT was activated by the impact.
The pilot reported that he executed a mid-field takeoff from runway 26, and while climbing through 200 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine abruptly stopped. Unable to achieve a restart, he executed a forced landing into an area of heavy brush slightly west of the upwind end of runway 26.
An FAA monitored engine inspection determined that the carburetor heat box flapper valve had broken loose and moved into a position where it restricted the airflow in the carburetor throat.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2564M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-937
- Airframe hours
- 3,147
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Steffeck, James, A.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 20, 1996 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- AST
- Destination
- TTD · Troutdale, OR
- Airport
- AST · Astoria Regional, runway 26, 5,796 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,130 total · 330 in this make and model · 2,130 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AST, 1 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.
Other investigations on N2564M · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.