Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St. Louis, Missouri 63101
Saturday, February 4, 1995 15:50 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said the airplane was difficult to start after numerous fuel priming actions and two start attempts. It started on the third attempt after using what he described as a flooded engine start. Ten minutes after takeoff the engine sputtered and rpm dropped to 1,500. The pilot applied carburetor heat, chose alternate magneto positions, turned on the electric fuel pump, and adjusted the mixture to no avail. He said the power fluctuated before the engine lost all its power. A witness observed a fluid coming from the airplane as it flew overhead. The fluid landed on his windshield and evaporated. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted the roof of an abandoned two-story building. The engine, fuel, and ignition systems examination revealed no anomalies that would prevent power production. Soot and carbon-like deposits were on the carburetor's venturi and spark plugs. A carburetor icing probability chart showed carburetor icing was not probable.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to an excessive fuel mixture caused by undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/4/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1550
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City ST. LOUIS
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 63101
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 2
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 Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
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) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency Unknown
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1627
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 4 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 17 2006 2:53PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N694SK
NTSB Number CHI95LA081
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7425056
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 1878
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIRSPIRIT AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address HANGAR #10 OMEGQ DR.
Aircraft Owner City SAUGET
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62206
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code CPS
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone CST
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 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 --