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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 28, 1994 · Piper PA-18 · N720PC

Montpelier, VT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 28, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Montpelier, VT
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N720PC
Operator
James G Bond
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO94LA154

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE TURNING FROM BASE TO FINAL FOR APPROACH TO RUNWAY 23, HE REDUCED POWER. HE STATED THAT AS HE CONTINUED HIS APPROACH HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE STATED THAT HE THROTTLED FORWARD THREE MORE TIMES BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE CHECKED AND VERIFIED THAT THE MIXTURE AND CARBURETOR HEAT WERE PROPERLY SET. HE STATED THAT HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO INCREASE THE AIRPSEED SO HE COULD FLARE ABOVE POWER LINES THAT WERE IN HIS PATH, BUT THE GEAR STRUCK THE LINES AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING HIS FLIGHT EARLIER HE HAD USED THE CARBURETOR HEAT AND IT WAS OPERATIONAL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 71 AND 59 DEGREES F, RESPECTIVELY AND ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS THESE CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICING.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR REASONS UNDETERMINED.

Full Narrative

On August 28, 1994, at 1045 eastern daylight time, N720PC, a Piper PA-18, operated by James Bond of Barre, Vermont, collided with power lines during landing on runway 23 at Montpelier Airport, Montpelier, Vermont. The pilot received minor injuries while the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local, personal flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, he was returning from a local flight and he entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 23. He reported that on base leg, " I cut power back to 800-900 rpm's across from the numbers and turned airplane to glide at 70mph. Turned base a quarter mile beyond numbers and then final. With a quarter headwind from left I applied power only to find there was no power available. I tried 2-3 times....checked mixture, carburetor heat, fuel gages and switches." The pilot stated that he pushed the nose forward to build up the airspeed and that during the landing the airplane's landing gear struck power lines about a quarter mile from the airport and the airplane fell to the ground. The pilot reported that he used carburetor heat when he was flying around earlier. He stated that there was no mechanical malfunction and, "I hoped to flare above power lines and hoped for a soft landing in rough, rolling grass." The temperature and dew point were 71 and 59 degrees F respectively. According to carburetor icing charts (see attachments), conditions were conducive to carburetor ice.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:45 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN720PC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJames G Bond
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-90 · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 14 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point59
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time14:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data