Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Leon, Iowa 50144
Sunday, November 6, 1988 15:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE CRUISING ABOUT 3000 FEET AGL DURING A PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE ENGINE HAD A COMPLETE POWER FAILURE. A SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY LDG WAS MADE ON A FARM HAY FIELD WITH NO DAMAGE INCURRED. SHORTLY AFTER THE LDG, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A FIRE HAD ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ATTEMPTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE BEFORE THE LOCAL FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BURNED-THROUGH AREA ON THE EXHAUST MUFFLER NEAR THE CARBURETOR. THE HEAT FROM THE BURNED-THROUGH AREA WAS DIRECTED ON THE CARBURETOR CAUSING FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FIRE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/6/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LEON
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50144
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1451 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID DSM
Elevation of weather observation facility 957
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
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) 29
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1352
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 6 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1610
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37469
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9246W
NTSB Number MKC89LA020
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-235
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-235
Aircraft Serial Number 28-10916
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 May 14 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 126
Airframe Hours 1886
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLER, LORING V
Aircraft Owner Street Address 306 SW CHURCH
Aircraft Owner City LEON
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50144
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MILLER, LORING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 306 SW CHURCH ST.
Operator City LEON
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 50144
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 VER
Departure City BOONVILLE
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --