Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mexico, Missouri 65265
Wednesday, May 19, 1993 9:55 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING A SPRAY RUN. HE BRIEFLY APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, PUMPED THE THROTTLE AND LEANED THE MIXTURE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE SUFFICIENT POWER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A SOFT, FALLOW FIELD AND NOSED OVER. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRFRAME. DURING THE REMOVAL AND SUBSEQUENT PREPARATION OF THE ENGINE FOR A TEST RUN IN A DIFFERENT AIRFRAME, SOME WATER WAS NOTED IN THE FUEL GASCOLATOR, OIL WAS SEEN IN THE LEFT MAGNETO, A BROKEN HIGH TENSION LEAD WAS REPLACED, AND A DIFFERENT CARBURETOR AIR BOX WAS FITTED. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY, EXCEPT FOR A SLIGHT ROUGHNESS AT FULL RATED POWER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the soft field landing site.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/19/1993
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 955
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MEXICO
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 65265
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 5
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 Central Daylight Time
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 CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1633
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 20 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 915
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8787L
NTSB Number CHI93LA175
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
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-25-235
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-25-235
Aircraft Serial Number 25-5473
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2697
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHERN AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 2
Aircraft Owner City WEBBER
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 74470
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KAPICA, STEVEN S.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT 3 BOX 327
Operator City BUFFALO
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 65622
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code H41
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 950
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:18PM
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 --