On February 20, 1987, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N25459) was involved in an aviation accident near New Smyrna Bch, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During cruise at 800 feet, the pilot reported engine RPM loss. Unable to maintain altitude, a forced landing was made on a road. Ground loop contact with scrub oak trees severed the left main landing gear. Post-crash examination revealed no engine malfunction, but icing conditions were favorable for carburetor icing.
Incident Summary
During cruise flight at an approximate altitude of 800 feet, the pilot reported that the engine began to lose RPM. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot executed a forced landing on a road. After touchdown, the aircraft ground looped due to contact with scrub oak trees. The impact severed the left main landing gear.
Post-Crash Examination
Following the accident, a post-crash examination and engine run-up were conducted. The examination revealed no evidence of engine failure or malfunction. Both the engine and its components were found to be operational.
Icing Conditions
A review of the icing probability chart indicated that conditions were favorable for serious icing with a float-type carburetor while operating at cruise power. This suggests that carburetor icing may have contributed to the loss of engine RPM, although the source does not explicitly state this as the cause.