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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

November 7, 1995 · Ryan Navion A3 · N116JM

Mccomb, OH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 7, 1995
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Mccomb, OH
Aircraft
Ryan Navion A3
Tail Number
N116JM
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO96LA016

The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 600 feet above the ground, when the engine lost power. He chose a field in front of the airplane for a forced landing, and the airplane touched down between 50 and 60 MPH. The pilot reported that when he applied brakes after touchdown, the airplane began to slide. Subsequently, it went across a road, impacted trees, and came to rest in a creek bed. The pilot stated that the airplane's engine restarted during the landing roll. No preimpact mechanical failure was found. The pilot stated that he believed the loss of engine power was the result of carburetor icing. The temperature and dew point were 44 and 42 degrees F, respectively. Icing probability charts showed that conditions were conducive for carburetor ice.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, and carburetor Ice, which resulted in loss of engine power and a subsequent forced landing. The carburetor icing (weather) condition was a related factor.

Full Narrative

On Tuesday, November 7, 1995, at 1035 eastern standard time, a Ryan "Navion" A3, N116JM, struck several trees and a creek bed following a forced landing near McComb, Ohio. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Henry County, Ohio, at approximately 1015, with an intended destination of Marion, Ohio. During postaccident interviews, the pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at about 600 feet above the ground, when the engine lost power. The pilot stated that he "...put the [carburetor] heat back on, [the landing] gear down, the fuel pump on, and picked out a field." He reported that the airplane touched down "...under control..." at about 60 knots, but it started to slide towards a building when he applied the brakes. The pilot reported that he swerved to avoid the building, and the airplane crossed a road (State Road 613), a field, then struck several trees and came to rest in a creek bed. The pilot reported that during the forced landing the "...brakes were ineffective, [the] engine restarted which allowed [the] airplane to miss a building and hop over a road." The straight line distance from the initial touchdown point to State Road 613, as measured by the Ohio State Police, is 1,667 feet. The distance from the point where the airplane entered the highway to the point where the airplane came to rest is an additional 991 feet. One witness stated that the "...airplane [appeared to be] trying to take off. [The] tail was dragging, but if he had a couple more RPM, he would have taken off." Another witness stated that "...he kept trying to take off, but couldn't, because he kept dragging his tail. He kept on going up and down." A third witness estimated that the airplane was traveling about "...40 to 50 [miles per hour] across the road..." and stated that the airplane engine was "...roaring." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the airplane's ground track, stated that there was "...no evidence of braking." Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly. The pilot stated that he believed that the loss of engine power was the result of carburetor icing. A carburetor icing probability chart prepared by the FAA is appended.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:35 EST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRyan Navion A3
Tail NumberN116JM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · E-185-9 · Reciprocating · 205
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 38 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 7 kt
Visibility2.5 sm
CeilingOvercast 600 ft
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 43 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time19:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data