1965 Cherokee Strikes Trees During Forced Landing

The preliminary report on the downing of a 1965 Cherokee that injured all four people on board (one seriously) raises a number of questions but until the final report comes in, we're simply going to have to chalk this one up to a lot of distractions and problems all at the same time... in which case one primary adage comes to mind... again and again... Fly The Airplane!

NTSB Identification: CEN12LA116
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, December 28, 2011 in Lebanon, OH
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-180, registration: N994NC
Injuries: 1 Serious, 3 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors.

On December 28, 2011, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N994NC, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain after a loss of power during a go-around at the Lebanon-Warren County Airport (I68), Lebanon, Ohio. The private pilot and two passengers received minor injuries, and one passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Warren County Airport LTD under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed I68 on a local flight about five minutes prior to the accident.

The pilot reported to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration that soon after he departed I68, the door on the passenger’s side of the airplane popped open. The pilot returned to the airport but decided to fly a go-around. The pilot reported that there was a loss of engine power when the airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern. The pilot attempted to land in a nearby field but the airplane struck trees and power lines. The airplane impacted the terrain and came to rest inverted.

At 1653, the surface weather observation at the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport (MGY), Dayton, Ohio, located 8 nautical miles north of I68, was: wind 250 at 5 knots; 10 miles visibility; clouds broken 2,800 feet; temperature 1 degree Celsius; dew point -4 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.03 inches of mercury.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov