Piper PA-28-180 N3672R

Summary

On 12 November 2001 at about 00:25 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N3672R, operated by Monroe Aviation, was involved in an accident near Mansfield, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 November 2001 at 00:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Mansfield, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Mansfield Lahm Regional Arpt (MFD)

Coordinates

40.8011, -82.4883

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N3672R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Monroe Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Raleigh → Mansfield

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC02FA025

1 person died.

the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, and subsequent forced landing. Factors were the carburetor icing condition, night conditions, trees, and the pilot's impairment from ingestion of an over-the-counter antihistamine.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were en route on a night cross-country flight when the engine experienced a partial power loss. The pilot pulled on carburetor heat for about 10 seconds and then with no change in engine operation, returned the carburetor heat to cold and told the passenger he thought the engine was experiencing vapor lock. The pilot was unable to restore full power and struck trees during the execution of an off airport, forced landing. Examination revealed evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. The engine was run and no problems were noted. A check of weather along the route of flight revealed the temperature and dewpoint spreads were getting closer together as the flight continued towards its destination. The spread at the accident site was 3 degrees C. According to FAA publications a temperature spread of 11 degrees C corresponds to a relative humidity of about 50 percent, and there is an increased likelihood of carburetor icing. Further, the FAA stated, "If detected, full carburetor heat should be applied immediately, and it should be left in the on position until the pilot is certain that all the ice has been removed." The FAA carburetor icing chart revealed the airplane nearing conditions of serious icing at cruise power. The toxicological examination found an over-the-counter antihistamine in the pilot's blood. Adverse affects for the antihistamine included, drowsiness.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.