On April 22, 1982, a Piper J5A (registration N41141) operated by Dan H. Reynolds was involved in an aviation accident near Tampa, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a VFR flight, the pilot reported an engine malfunction. Despite applying carburetor heat and other measures, power was not restored. The pilot performed a forced landing about one mile from the destination airport, resulting in substantial damage.
Incident Details
A pilot reported that the engine malfunctioned while he was conducting a VFR flight. The pilot stated that he applied carburetor heat and attempted other measures to restore power, but the malfunction persisted. Consequently, the aircraft performed a forced landing approximately one mile from the destination airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the landing.
Investigation Findings
An examination of the engine was conducted after the forced landing. The investigation revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure prior to the forced landing. The pilot indicated that he had 7.5 gallons of fuel in the header fuel tank when he departed from Plant City, Florida. The accident occurred about 15 minutes after takeoff.