Piper PA-28-140 N4315J

Summary

On 23 April 1989 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N4315J, operated by Wilson, Charles G., was involved in an accident near Wellsville, Kansas, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 April 1989 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Wellsville, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

38.7103, -95.0802

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N4315J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wilson, Charles G.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Topeka → Osawatomie

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC89FA096

1 person was seriously injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AT A CRITICAL TIME IN FLIGHT, A GO-AROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND AFTER INITIATING A DOWNWIND APPROACH TO LAND. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB OF THE GO-AROUND. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1,056 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXISTING METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT TWO TIMES AFTER ENTERING THE LANDING PATTERN. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. AN EYEWITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT WITHIN THIRTY FEET OF HIS POSITION AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 FEET OFF THE GRASS RUNWAY IN A LANDING ATTITUDE. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY RUN AFTER REPLACING THE CARBURETOR AND FUEL STRAINER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.