REEDLEY, CA, USA
N23415
PIPER PA-38-112
THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 800 FEET AGL AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE THEN 'QUIT AND RESTART(ED)' SEVERAL TIMES. HE SAID THAT INSUFFICIENT POWER WAS AVAILABLE TO REMAIN AIRBORNE AND HE ATTEMPTED A LANDING IN A TREE COVERED FIELD NEAR THE AIRPORT. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED THAT EACH FUEL TANK HAD ABOUT 6 GALLONS OF FUEL. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE TEMPERATURE AT FRESNO, CA, WHICH IS LOCATED ABOUT 15 MILES WEST NORTHWEST OF REEDLEY, CA, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 67 DEGREES AND THE DEW POINT WAS 48 DEGREES. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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