Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Newville, Pennsylvania 17241
Thursday, December 18, 2008 13:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While the airplane was in level flight about 1,000 feet above the ground, the pilot added carburetor heat. The engine immediately began to run roughly, so the pilot attempted to add power, and the engine then lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a turnpike; however, as he flared the airplane for the landing, it impacted the rear of a moving tractor trailer before dropping to the ground. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over a guard rail, which caught part of the airplane's landing gear. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were noted, and when tested, the engine started easily. Ambient temperature and dew point conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice as a result of the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/18/2008
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Newville
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17241
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 401144N
Event Location Longitude 0772456W
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 1256 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID CXY
Elevation of weather observation facility 347
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.3
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) 26082
NTSB Notification Source Pennsylvania State Police
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2009 2:45PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N66JH
NTSB Number ERA09LA098
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 HESS JOHN L
Aircraft Model SPEZIO II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 30
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name HANNAGAN MICHAEL F
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ENDICOTT
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13760-4516
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name HANNAGAN MICHAEL F
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ENDICOTT
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 13760-4516
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 CZY
Departure City Endicott
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N94
Destination City Carlisle
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 21 2009 2:26PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --