North Central State Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860
Friday, August 29, 2003 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot was on final approach for a touch and go landing when he reduced the throttle slightly and the engine lost power. The airplane was about 350 feet above the ground, and he performed a forced landing into trees. The airplane came to rest inverted, about 1/2 mile from the airport. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/29/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Pawtucket
Event State RHODE ISLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02860
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415514N
Event Location Longitude 0712928W
Event Location Airport NORTH CENTRAL STATE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 50
Airport Elevation 441
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SFZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 441
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 15763
NTSB Notification Source NE REGION OPS CTR
NTSB Notification Date Sep 2 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 740
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2004 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Bedford, MA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2550A
NTSB Number NYC03LA184
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 38-78A0751
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 Aug 16 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 12352
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lincoln Flight Center Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 45 Red Barn Ln.
Aircraft Owner City East Greenwich
Aircraft Owner State RI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02818
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PVD
Departure City Providence
Departure State RI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SFZ
Destination City Pawtucket
Destination State RI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 14 2004 1:17PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --