Grand Stand Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582
Monday, August 22, 2005 16:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed Grand Stand Airport on a routine banner tow flight around the North Myrtle Beach area. The airplane had flown for about two and a half hours and was at an altitude of 500 feet when the engine started to run rough. The engine continued to run rough for 45-60 seconds followed by the engine completely losing power. The pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and the pilot chose to ditch the airplane in the Atlantic Ocean. The airplane was ditched 125 yards from the coast and was recovered by witnesses at the scene of the accident. Post accident-examination of the airplane revealed saltwater throughout the engine and engine accessories. Saltwater was drained from the recovered engine and the engine was started and a functional run was accomplished. According to carburetor icing charts, weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The pilot reported that he did not apply carburetor heat during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/22/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City N. Myrtle Beach
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29582
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude Plas e.
Event Location Longitude 0784343W
Event Location Airport Grand Stand Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KCRE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source --
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18732
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2005 6:27AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N262T
NTSB Number ATL05CA151
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18-105
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-2376
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Barnstormer Flite Signs INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 1728
Aircraft Owner City N. Myrtle Beach
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29598
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 North Myrtle Beach
Operator State SC
Operator Country USA
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) Banner Tow
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KCRE
Departure City N. Myrtle Beach
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KCRE
Destination City N. Myrtle Beach
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 16 2005 1:26PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --