Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marion, Arkansas 72364
Tuesady, May 15, 2012 14:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The engine lost power about 10 minutes into the flight. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and configured it for a forced landing in a soybean field. The engine power resumed then was lost again. The instructor attempted to make a steep turn back toward the soybean field. He did not realize how low the airplane was, and the airplane collided with the ground. Both the instructor and student said they had not used carburetor heat. According to the local weather report, the temperature and dew point were 79 degrees and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. According to the “Carburetor Icing Probability Chart,” this temperature/dew point combination would be in the “serious icing (glide power)” range. An examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies with the engine. Although there is a possibility carburetor icing occurred, it could not be determined if the airplane had been operated in conditions that resulted in the formation of carburetor icing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/2012
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1440
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Marion
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72364
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 351630N
Event Location Longitude 0903000W
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 1453 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID KAWM
Elevation of weather observation facility 212
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KAWM 151953Z AUTO 14003KT 10SM BKN065 OVC080 26/13
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31108
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 1 2013 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N43635
NTSB Number CEN12LA306
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 TAYLORCRAFT
Aircraft Model BC12-D
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7294
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 5 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 2059
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Steven Jones
Aircraft Owner Street Address 926 Patton Taylor Drive, Apt. 2B
Aircraft Owner City Southhaven
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38671
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Steven Jones
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Southhaven
Operator State MS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 38671
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code M01
Departure City Memphis
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code M01
Destination City Memphis
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2012 12:30PM
User who most recently changed record scoa
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 --