Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St. Lucie, Florida 34996
Saturday, August 19, 2000 10:58 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated he was in cruise flight at 1,000 feet when he experienced a decrease in engine rpm. He applied carburetor heat and the rpm increased. About 5 minutes later, the engine experienced another decrease in engine rpm. He made a forced landing to a highway and collided with a tree. Examination of the engine assembly could not determine the reported partial loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper judgment to conduct a precautionary landing when he first experienced a partial loss of engine power, and his subsequent failure to maintain a visual lookout during a forced landing resulting in an in-flight collision with a tree. Contributing to the accident was a reported partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1058
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ST. LUCIE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34996
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 8
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1103 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID SUA
Elevation of weather observation facility 18
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 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) 385
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date Aug 19 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54403
NTSB Number MIA00LA242
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 Ryan
Aircraft Model ST3KR
Aircraft Series Identifier ST3KR
Aircraft Serial Number 1387
Certified Max Gross Weight 1860
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 10 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 184
Airframe Hours 4120
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GARY V. SNODGRASS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3448 MELBA DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City JENSEN BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34957
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 FPR
Departure City FORT PIERCE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SUA
Destination City STUART
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2001 7:08AM
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 --