WELLSVILLE, KS, USA
N4315J
PIPER PA-28-140
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.
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.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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