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NTSB Report

November 8, 1993 · Piper PA-28-161 · N8223T

Manassas, VA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 8, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Manassas, VA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-161
Tail Number
N8223T
Operator
Dulles Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO94LA004

WHILE ON THE AIRPORT'S BASE LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING TO A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE'S GLIDE DID NOT ALLOW IT TO MAKE THE FIELD AND IT COLLIDED WITH A TREE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO BOTH WING SPARS AND WING STRUCTURE. THE PROPELLER BLADES WERE ALSO BENT AFT. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATIONS OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND NO ANOMALIES WERE NOTED.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of total engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the lack of suitable terrain to enable the completion of a power-off forced landing.

Full Narrative

On Monday, November 8, 1993, at 1038 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8223T, owned and operated by Dulles Aviation located in Manassas, Virginia, and piloted by Eduardo A. Bonacic-Doric of Vienna, Virginia, lost total engine power while in the Manassas Airport's traffic pattern. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he was cleared to land the airplane on runway 16R. He stated that there was a Cessna 152 that was cleared to land before his airplane, so he extended the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The pilot stated, "When I turned into base leg I reduced the power after applying hot air to the carburetor. The engine quit running and I reported to the tower that I was in [an] emergency [situation] and [was trying] to reach the runway, but [because] I did not have enough altitude to reach the runway, I tried to land on a 70 yards long piece of land." The pilot stated that during the emergency descent, the airplane contacted a tree prior to touchdown. The pilot said that the airplane touched down and rolled into trees which stopped the airplane. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the fuel tanks were full and no fuel contaminates were found. The fuel selector was positioned on the left fuel tank. The mixture and throttle were in the full aft position. According to a Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector, the pilot reported to him that once the airplane came to rest, "...I [the pilot] shut everything off prior to exiting the airplane." The accident was located about one quarter mile north of the airport. The airplane sustained damage to both wing leading edges and wing spars. The right fuel tank was breached. The propeller blades were bent aft and the bottom of the fuselage was damaged. Fuel was drained from each wing fuel tank for safe transport back to the airport. The airplane was removed from the accident site and stored in a hangar at the Manassas Airport. Fuel was put back into the airplane's left fuel tank and the engine was started. The engine ran at full power and at idle. The left and right magneto's were selected and a reduction in engine revolutions per minute was observed. No engine anomalies were noted.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:38 EST
Nearest AirportManassas Municipal Arpt (1nm E)
Runway16R
Runway Length3703 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-161
Tail NumberN8223T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDulles Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D3G · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 67 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point43 C / 28 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:39
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data