SCHUYLER, NE, USA
N43302
PIPER PA-32-260
WHILE DESCENDING TOWARD THE PLANNED DESTINATION, THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH & THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO IMPROVE THE ENG'S PERFORMANCE BY USING CARBURETOR HEAT. HE MADE A LOCALIZER-ONLY APCH, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE RWY AT THE MIN DESCENT ALT. A MISSED APCH WAS MADE & HE STARTED TO DIVERT BACK OMAHA, NE. HOWEVER, WHILE EN ROUTE, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. AT APRX 500 FT AGL, THE PLT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH VISUAL REFERENCES. HE SELECTED A SHOW COVERED FIELD & MADE A SOFT FIELD APCH & LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT DROPPED OFF OF A TERRACE ONTO ANOTHER. THE TERRACE WAS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE AIR DUE TO THE SNOW COVER. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR FUEL NOZZLE WAS COVERED WITH ICE. THE CARBURETOR HEAT SYS WAS FOUND TO BE OPERATIONAL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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