Mansfield Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mansfield, Missouri 65704
Monday, January 13, 2003 16:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane contacted a tree during an off airport forced landing. The pilot reported that she flew to 03B to practice a couple of takeoffs and landings. She stated she entered the traffic pattern and pulled the power back when she was 180 degrees from the end of the runway. When she made the base leg turn, she realized that the wind was pushing her away from the runway so she added power, but there was no response from the engine. The pilot stated she tried adding a little more power, but again there was no response. She stated she then pulled the throttle back and advanced it to the full power setting, but there was still no response from the engine. The pilot stated she chose a two-lane dirt lane on wooded farmland on which to land. The left wing contacted a tree during the landing roll and the airplane spun around 180 degrees before coming to rest. Following the accident, the engine was started and it operated normally. The temperature and dewpoint reported 41 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, were 1 degree Celsius and -1 degree Celsius, respectively. These conditions are conducive for serious icing at any power setting. The Lycoming O-235-C Series engine manual, page 3-7, states, "(3) Landing Approach - In making an approach for a landing, carburetor air heat should generally be in the "Full Cold" position. However, if icing conditions are suspected, the "Full Heat" should be applied. In the case that full power need be applied under these conditions, as for an aborted landing, the carburetor heat should be returned to "Full Cold" after power application. See aircraft flight manual for specific instructions." The PA-38-112, Pilot Operating Handbook, pages 4-21and 22, state, "Carburetor heat should not be applied unless there is an indication of carburetor icing, since the use of carburetor heat causes a reduction in power which may be critical in case of a go-around. Full throttle operation with carburetor heat on can cause detonation."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, which resulted in the formation of carburetor ice and the loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/13/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Mansfield
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 65704
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 370740N
Event Location Longitude 0923715W
Event Location Airport Mansfield Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 03B
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 1500
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID SGF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1267
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 41
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.22
Density Altitude (feet) -132
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13574
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jan 14 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2003 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Kansas City, MO FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2400K
NTSB Number CHI03LA051
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 38-79A0617
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 Jan 2 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 2223
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Friedrich & Susan Kalhoefer
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 1, Box 71
Aircraft Owner City Macomb
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65702
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 MNF
Departure City Mountain Grove
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1535
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 03B
Destination City Mansfield
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2003 6:44PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --