Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Union Bridge, Maryland 21791
Thursday, July 25, 1996 11:34 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at approximately 3500 feet, '...the engine lost power, propeller continued to windmill. All seemed normal except no power.' The pilot stated that he used his Global Positioning System receiver to look for an airport within gliding distance and found none. He said he notified air traffic control and '...picked wheat stubble field to land. We were low and had to avoid a tree - swung too wide and came down in corn which turned out to be 10 to 12 ft tall. It was a hard landing. Nose wheel broke off. Left landing gear broke. Came to rest with left wing tip on ground.' During a postaccident examination, the engine was visually inspected, and a run-up was conducted. The engine would only run when the mixture control was in an excessively lean position. The carburetor was flow checked and the results were within specification. An inspection of the carburetor did not reveal a mechanical discrepancy.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1134
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City UNION BRIDGE
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21791
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
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 2700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1680
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1813
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6169R
NTSB Number IAD96LA123
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172 RG
Aircraft Series Identifier 172 RG
Aircraft Serial Number 172RG0102
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Jul 23 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 1400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE H. ROWELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 62 MICHAEL DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City PITTSFIELD
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01201
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 GVE
Departure City GORDONSVILLE
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City SAXTONS RIVER
Destination State VT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 --