Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mansfield, Massachusetts 02048
Tuesady, September 1, 2009 10:53 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot performed a preflight inspection prior to departure, including "topping off" the fuel tanks, and he observed no contamination in the fuel. After departure, the pilot maneuvered in the local area for about 20 minutes. He performed a stall maneuver and shortly after the airplaneā€™s engine started to "sputter and run rough." The pilot attempted unsuccessfully to troubleshoot the problem, including turning on the carburetor heat and switching fuel tanks. When he realized that he would be unable to make it to a nearby airport, the pilot prepared for a forced landing to the highway below. During the landing, the left wing struck a barrier resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed sufficient fuel in the right tank and the left tank was breached. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies. Review of the Federal Aviation Administration carburetor ice probability chart revealed that the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to "serious icing" conditions at glide power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/2009
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1053
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Mansfield
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02048
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420201N
Event Location Longitude 0711310W
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 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID OWD
Elevation of weather observation facility 49
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Partial Obscuration
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) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
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) 30.29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KOWD 011453Z 35004KT 10SM CLR 20/07 A3029 RMK AO2
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27243
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 28 2010 2:39PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32146
NTSB Number ERA09LA496
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 PA28-151
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7515079
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 12 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 12681
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name PLANE NONSENSE INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 227 MARINERS WAY
Aircraft Owner City BEAR
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19701-2295
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PLANE NONSENSE INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 227 MARINERS WAY
Operator City BEAR
Operator State DE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 19701-2295
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 BED
Departure City Bedford
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1035
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BED
Destination City Bedford
Destination State MA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 25 2010 3:15PM
User who most recently changed record broda
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 --