Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Egg Harbor Twp, New Jersey 08221
Friday, August 4, 2006 12:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After performing a banner-towing flight, the pilot returned to a field to drop the banner. He reduced power as he initiated a descent to the field, and just prior to releasing the banner, the pilot increased the throttle to arrest the descent, and initiated a climb. As the pilot increased the throttle, he experienced "little or no positive reaction from the engine." He released the banner and the airplane continued to descend. The pilot prepared for a forced landing to the field, during which the airplane impacted a tree and caught fire. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. Additionally, the carburetor heat was in the "off" position. The closest weather reporting station to the accident site, approximately 6 miles to the north, recorded the temperature and dew point as 34 degrees Celsius (C), and 22 degrees C, respectively. Interpolation of an FAA carburetor icing probability chart, revealed the conditions were conducive to carburetor ice at glide and cruise power settings. According to the FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, during closed-throttle operations, carburetor heat should be adjusted to the full ON position before closing the throttle and left on during the closed-throttle operation. The Handbook additionally states that after a power loss is noticed, immediate action should be taken to eliminate ice already formed in the carburetor, and to prevent further ice formation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to utilize carburetor heat during the descent, which resulted in the formation of carburetor ice and subsequent engine failure. A factor in the accident was the carburetor icing conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/4/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1250
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Egg Harbor Twp
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08221
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 392020N
Event Location Longitude 0743718W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID ACY
Elevation of weather observation facility 75
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 22191
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 4 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2007 11:30AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office PHL FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6471Z
NTSB Number NYC06LA193
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-25
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 25-673
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6892
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name High Exposure Banner Co.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 521 N West St.
Aircraft Owner City Wilmington
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19801
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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) Banner Tow
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 0NJ6
Departure City Linwood
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 0NJ6
Destination City --
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 3 2007 9:36PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --