Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sandwich, Illinois 60548
Saturday, May 15, 2010 18:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff while maneuvering approximately 100 feet above ground level, the airplane's engine lost partial power or "bogged down." The pilot said that he applied power; however, the engine did not respond. He scanned the engine gauges and no anomalies were noted. He said that he then applied carburetor heat; however, he did not have much time as he was about to land. He elected to perform a forced landing to a wet/muddy field. During the landing, the airplane impacted the terrain and nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing at cruise power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's delay in using carburetor heat resulting in a partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Sandwich
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60548
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 413818N
Event Location Longitude 0883840W
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 Pilot
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 Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27157
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 24 2010 11:50AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N22394
NTSB Number CEN10CA252
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model J3C-65
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20043
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 May 6 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4120.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Steven L. Miller
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1320 Evergreen Lane
Aircraft Owner City Yorkville
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60560
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Steven L. Miller
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1320 Evergreen Lane
Operator City Yorkville
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60560
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 0C8
Departure City Newark
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DKB
Destination City DeKalb
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 14 2010 2:29PM
User who most recently changed record saua
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 --