Arrowhead Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Maryland Height, Missouri 63043
Wednesday, October 21, 1992 8:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY THROUGH LIFTOFF. ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, RESTARTED, THEN QUIT AGAIN. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, MOUSE NESTS WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NEST DEBRIS WAS FOUND IN THE AIRDUCT AND AIRBOX. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN DURING A TEST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

BLOCKAGE OF THE INDUCTION AIR SYSTEM BY A MOUSE NEST.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/21/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MARYLAND HEIGHT
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 63043
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ARROWHEAD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 02K
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 450
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 822 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID SUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 605
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 632
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 21 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 935
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48029
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7858N
NTSB Number CHI93LA012
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-5316
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 6 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 84
Airframe Hours 2931
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FLOTRON, FRANCIS E., JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13043 OLIVE BLVD
Aircraft Owner City ST. LOUIS
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63141
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FLOTRON, FRANCIS E., JR.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 13043 OLIVE BLVD
Operator City ST. LOUIS
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 63141
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 02K
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AIZ
Destination City KAIZER
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 2
Runway Length 2700
Runway Width 47
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --