LOCKHART, TX, USA
N4083
MOONEY M-18C
THE PLT RELATED THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT PERFORMING WELL FROM THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ROLL. SINCE HE HAD ONLY PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THE ACFT IN WINTER MONTHS & THE TEMP WAS QUITE WARM, HE THOUGHT THE LACK OF PERFORMANCE WAS DUE TO THE TEMP. HE STAYED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN & MADE A TOUCH-&-GO LANDING. HE DID NOT USE THE CARB HEAT SINCE HE THOUGHT THE AIR WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICE. AFTER THE TOUCH-&-GO, THE ENG WAS EVEN MORE SLUGGISH. ON DOWNWIND, HE NOTICED AN INDICATION OF ZERO OIL PRESSURE & ELECTED TO TURN DIRECTLY TO THE RWY FOR AN IMMEDIATE LANDING. HE DECIDED NOT TO EXTEND THE GEAR SO AS TO EXTEND HIS GLIDE & MINIMIZE DAMAGE.SUBSEQUENTLY, HE CONTACTED THE GROUND, LEFT WING 1ST, WHILE TRYING TO ALIGN THE ACFT WITH THE RWY. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED NO INDICATION OF INTERNAL FAILURE. APRX 2 QTS OF OIL WERE FOUND IN THE ENG & AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT HAD DRAINED OUT AT THE CRASH SITE. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 80 & 50 DEG. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS CARB ICING WAS POSSIBLE AT OR BELOW RATED POWER. AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS USED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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