Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Claverack, New York 12513
Wednesday, December 4, 1996 1:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, while en route at 9500 feet, after about 20 minutes of level flight, the engine power decreased to below idle rpm. The fuel flow had been 13 gallons per hour (gph) until the power loss occurred, but after the power loss, the flow was 28 gph. The outside air temperature was -20 degrees Celsius. The pilot's attempts to regain power, including the use of carburetor heat, were unsuccessful. He made a forced landing in a field. The pilot, an aircraft mechanic, reported that after landing, he inspected the engine. Not finding any discrepancy, he started the engine 'which ran good.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/4/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 130
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City CLAVERACK
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12513
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 12
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 Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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) --
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) 1917
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 4 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3324W
NTSB Number IAD97LA027
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-158
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 16 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 69
Airframe Hours 2956
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PARAGON TECHNOLOGIES
Aircraft Owner Street Address ALLVIEW AVE
Aircraft Owner City BREWSTER
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 10509
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COOLING AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 49 MIRY BROOK RD.
Operator City DANBURY
Operator State CT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 06810
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 N27
Departure City JOHNSTON
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 30
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DXR
Destination City DANBURY
Destination State CT
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 --