Barnhart Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Carlisle, Ohio 45344
Sunday, April 24, 1994 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND A 'SUDDEN LOSS OF ALTITUDE' ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. HE STATED THAT HE ADDED POWER, BUT COULD NOT 'GET ENOUGH POWER TO REACH THE RUNWAY.' THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, IMPACTING A FENCE AND AN ELEVATED ROAD. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE REASON THE ENGINE COULD NOT PRODUCE ENOUGH POWER WAS BECAUSE THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS ACCIDENTLY PULLED OUT FROM A HEAD SET CABLE. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE MIXTURE CONTROL DURING THE BASE AND FINAL APPROACH LEGS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inattention to the mixture control which was inadvertently placed in the idle cut-off position by the passenger and resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor is the pilot's inadequate planning.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/24/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NEW CARLISLE
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45344
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BARNHART MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID I11
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 287
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID DAY
Elevation of weather observation facility 1009
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1317
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 24 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5855W
NTSB Number BFO94LA076
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-160
Aircraft Serial Number 28-2358
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 14 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 4372
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REICHEL, ROLAND J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2487 SANTA ROSA DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City KETTERING
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45440
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name REICHEL, ROLAND J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2487 SANTA ROSA DRIVE
Operator City KETTERING
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 45440
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --