Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rochelle, Illinois 61068
Saturday, April 30, 1994 12:29 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BEFORE DEPARTING ON AN IFR FLIGHT THE PILOT OBTAINED A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING. DURING THE BRIEFING THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF AN ADVISORY FOR ICING NORTH OF ROUTE OF FLIGHT. WHILE EN ROUTE THE PILOT OBTAINED AN WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FLIGHT WATCH. HE WAS ADVISED THAT HIS DESTINATION REPORTED RAIN AND SNOW. THE PILOT REQUESTED A CLEARANCE TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. BEING TOLD TO STANDBY, HE CONTACTED THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT'S APPROACH CONTROL AND REQUESTED A CLEARANCE. THE PILOT SAID HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT WHEN HE NOTICED HIS ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. AFTER IT SMOOTHED OUT HE REMOVED THE HEAT. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT ONCE AGAIN WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE BEING VECTORED TO THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A MUDDY CORN FIELD. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE AND DEWPOINT WERE 35 AND 34 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY WHICH ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS IS CONDUCIVE FOR SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICE AT CRUISE POWER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate use of carburetor heat. Factors associated with the accident were carburetor icing conditions and rough terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/30/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1229
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ROCHELLE
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61068
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
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1234 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID RFD
Elevation of weather observation facility 736
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1004
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 30 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1617
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:01AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7605P
NTSB Number CHI94LA145
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-2816
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 18 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 4553
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES T. WEBB
Aircraft Owner Street Address 423 VOLUSIA AVE.
Aircraft Owner City DAYTON
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45409
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code DAY
Departure City DAYTON
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1147
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MSN
Destination City MADISON
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --