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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 173722
Last updated: 10 May 2020

Type:Silhouette image of generic PA25 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Piper PA-25-180
Registration: N242JG
C/n / msn: 25-670
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:0
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Location:Baltimore, MD -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Departure airport:Baltimore, MD (MTN)
Destination airport:Baltimore, MD
Investigating agency: NTSB
The airplane's hangar was not heated, and the temperature had dropped to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit the previous evening. The pilot pre-heated the engine for about 45 minutes before starting the engine. He taxied the airplane and performed an engine run-up for a total of about 20 minutes, then flew for about 5 minutes to another airport for a banner pickup. In the traffic pattern, the pilot applied carburetor heat, then turned it off shortly before banner pickup in anticipation of the climb. The pilot hooked the banner, then proceeded to climb the airplane while increasing engine power to 2,500 rpm. The engine then "gave one spat," but "climbed strong" until about 200 feet above the runway, when the engine rpm suddenly dropped, and the engine sputtered to a stop. The pilot instantly released the banner, then tried to revive the engine by applying carburetor heat and pumping the throttle. The pilot determined that because of the low altitude, he could not complete a turn back to the runway, so he landed straight ahead into trees. Post-accident inspection of the engine and fuel system revealed no mechanical anomalies. The temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident were 16 and -2 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in no probability of carburetor icing.
Probable Cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors included a low ambient temperature and a lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.



Revision history:

11-Feb-2015 07:16 Noro Added
07-Dec-2017 17:36 ASN Update Bot Updated [Cn, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]

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