Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Blooming Grove, Pennsylvania 18519
Wednesday, November 23, 1994 16:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT IN THE CLOUDS AT 9000 FEET MSL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A SNOW SQUALL. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT TO BOTH ENGINES, BUT THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL FOR THE LEFT ENGINE ONLY COULD BE MOVED 1/3 OF ITS FULL TRAVEL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED THE RIGHT ENGINE ALSO LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE A GEAR UP FORCED LANDING IN A SWAMPY FIELD. THE AIRPLANE WAS EXAMINED AT THE ACCIDENT BY AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR WHO REPORTED THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE CYLINDERS OF BOTH ENGINES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE RECEIVED TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS, AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HIS ROUTE WAS FURTHER EASTWARD TO AVOID THE COLD FRONT WITH LAKE SNOW EFFECT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The malfunction of the carburetor heat control which resulted in loss of engine power. The carburetor icing weather condition was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/23/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BLOOMING GROVE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18519
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 11
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 258
Weather Observation Facility ID AVP
Elevation of weather observation facility 963
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
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 Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2055
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 25 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4430P
NTSB Number BFO95LA017
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-23-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-160
Aircraft Serial Number 23-1946
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 5
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 15 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 3252
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD A MC MILLEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 248
Aircraft Owner City PEWEE VALLEY
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40056
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 LOU
Departure City LOUISVILLE
Departure State KY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1306
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code POU
Destination City POUGHKEEPSIE
Destination State NY
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 --