Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dunlap, Tennessee 37327
Saturday, December 8, 1990 16:23 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE CRUISING AT 4000 FEET, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT FAILED. THE AIRPLANE CRSHED IN A ROCK PIT WHERE IT SUSTAINED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. FUEL WAS IN BOTH TANKS WHEN EXAMINED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE AIRPLANE EXAMINATION ALSO FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING THE FUNCTIONAL EXAMINATION. HOWEVER, THE ICING PROBABILITY CURVE INDICATED THE POSSIBILITY OF CARBURETOR ICE FORMATION. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPERATIONAL CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE CARBURETOR HEAT PROPERLY, WHICH RESULTED IN THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE, FOLLOWED BY A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND THE ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN AT THE CRASH SITE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/8/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1623
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City DUNLAP
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37327
Event Date Year 1990
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1652 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID CHA
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 135
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2077
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 8 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46898
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5147M
NTSB Number ATL91LA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 23C
Aircraft Series Identifier 23C
Aircraft Serial Number M-2035
Certified Max Gross Weight 2455
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 2600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WINCHESTER, JOHN L.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 377 GREEN HARBER
Operator City OLD HICKORY
Operator State TN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 37138
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 CHA
Departure City CHATTANOOGA
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code M54
Destination City LEBANON
Destination State TN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --