Cottonwood Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cottonwood, Arizona 86236
Thursday, November 14, 1996 10:40 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that after returning from a local flight, he entered the airport traffic pattern for a landing on runway 32. He said that carburetor heat was pulled on and an initial power change was made from cruise power to 2,200 rpm. After reducing the power further to 1,800 rpm, the engine began to run rough. The pilot attempted to increase engine power; however, the engine continued to run rough until it finally stopped producing power altogether. While the engine problems were occurring, the pilot declared a mayday and attempted to land on runway 14, but he had insufficient altitude and the airplane collided with terrain about 200 yards short of the pavement. The pilot reported that both fuel tanks had been topped off the day before the accident flight, and a preflight check showed no sign of moisture. Postaccident inspection of the engine by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed no discrepancy. The temperature at the time of the accident was 59 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dew point was 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Reference to a carburetor icing probablity chart for the temperature/dew point spread revealed that the points were in an area of the chart delineated 'moderate icing cruise power/serious icing glide power.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/14/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1040
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City COTTONWOOD
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86236
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport COTTONWOOD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID P52
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3550
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1045 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID PRC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5042
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 65
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4371
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1551
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 14 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:27AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12033
NTSB Number LAX97LA040
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 Moody
Aircraft Model RV-6
Aircraft Series Identifier RV-6
Aircraft Serial Number 1
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 24 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 47
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALLACE W. MOODY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2101 N. PAGE SPRINGS ROAD
Aircraft Owner City CORNVILLE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86325
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 7E7
Departure City CAMP VERDE
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code P52
Destination City
Destination State
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 14
Runway Length 4250
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --