Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Appalachia, Virginia 24216
Monday, April 14, 1986 10:25 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

N7792E EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL POWER LOSS WHILE EN ROUTE TO GREENWOOD. S.C. VIA APPALACHIA, VA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT AND RESTARTED FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER HE HAD BEEN FLYING ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES. THIS CYCLE CONTINUED FOR ABOUT TWO MORE TIMES,BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED COMPLETELY. HE PROCEEDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A WOODED MOUNTAINOUS AREA. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE FLIPPED INVERTED AND EXPLODED ON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS ABOUT 180 DEGREES FROM THE INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S BROTHER-IN LAW STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD PLANNED TO OVERFLY THE FAMILY HOME TO SHOW THEM THE AIRCRAFT. THE CONDITION DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT WAS INDICATIVE OF CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CARBURETOR ICE. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT APPLYING CARBUERTOR HEAT. THE TEMP/DEW POINT AT TRI-CITIES AIRPORT WAS 68/43 DEGREES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/14/1986
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1025
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City APPALACHIA
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24216
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 4
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1048 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID TRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 1519
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 47
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 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) 277
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 14 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30488
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7792E
NTSB Number ATL86LA113
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 150-17592
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Aug 25 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2535
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
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 ALBERT G. HARRIS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2679 ABERDEEN CT
Operator City ORANGE PARK
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32073
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
Departure City LONESOME PINE
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1005
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City GREENWOOD
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --