Wing John R WITTMAN TAILWIND N865JT

Summary

On 1 December 2011 at about 19:40 local time, a Wing John R WITTMAN TAILWIND registered N865JT was involved in an accident near Fulton, New York, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 December 2011 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Fulton, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Oswego County Airport (FZY)

Coordinates

43.3381, -76.4069

Aircraft

Wing John R WITTMAN TAILWIND

Registration

N865JT

Category

Airplane

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fulton → Fulton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12FA093

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According the spouse of the pilot, the purpose of the flight was for him to become more familiar with the airplane in order to complete the required 40 flight hours of the phase one operating limitations. According to several witnesses, they heard the engine "sputter" and saw the airplane pitch nose down and descend through trees before impacting the ground. Such a descent is indicative of an aerodynamic stall. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airframe or engine. Based on the temperature and dew point at the time of the accident, the conditions were favorable for serious carburetor icing at a cruise power setting. The carburetor heat control was in the full forward or "closed" position. The witness statements about the engine, as well as the favorable conditions for serious carburetor ice formation, suggest a partial loss of power. The pilot, still becoming familiar with the handling characteristics of the airplane, likely became preoccupied with restoring full engine power and maneuvering the airplane toward the airport in order to land and unintentionally entered an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.