Lee Bird Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North Platte, Nebraska 69101
Thursday, July 28, 1983 10:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD BEEN FLYING FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR IN THE LOCAL AREA AND WAS RETURNING FROM THE PRACTICE AREA AT 1100 FEET AGL. IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING HE ADVANCED THE MIXTURE TO FULL RICH AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE TRIED EMERG PROCEDURES BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MOVED THE THROTTLE AND THE MIXTURE BACK AND FORTH AND SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE MADE A LEFT TURN AND LANDED IN A CORNFIELD. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT EXAMINED THE ENGINE BUT DID NOT FIND EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED ENGINE FAILURE. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE SURFACE TEMP WAS 78F AND THE DEW POINT WAS 63F. ACCORDING TO THE CARBURATOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART, THAT COMBINATION OF TEMP/DEW POINT IS CONDUCIVE TO MODERATE CARBURETOR ICING AT CRUISE POWER AND SERIOUS ICING AT DESCENT POWER. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NOT USED CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/1983
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City NORTH PLATTE
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69101
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LEE BIRD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LBF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 210
Airport Elevation 2779
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1049 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID LBF
Elevation of weather observation facility 2779
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1420
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21714
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N25087
NTSB Number MKC83LA169
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-38
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38
Aircraft Serial Number 38-80A0027
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 Jul 22 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 1515
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TREGO AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1226
Aircraft Owner City NORTH PLATTE
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 69101
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 Yes - certificate holder
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 925
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 17
Runway Length 4434
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --