On August 13, 1989, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2471D) operated by Jerry W. Wood was involved in an aviation accident near Benson, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported smoke in the cockpit from under the passenger dashboard, lasting 20 seconds. He shut down the engine, executed a forced landing, and heard stall warnings during descent. The aircraft landed hard on a dirt road; the operator indicated no mechanical malfunction.
Incident Overview
According to the pilot of the accident aircraft, smoke was detected in the cockpit. The smoke was both seen and smelled, originating from beneath the dashboard on the passenger side. The smoke persisted for a period of about 20 seconds.
Pilot Response
The pilot decided to turn off the throttle, mixture, and fuel controls. He then performed a forced landing. During the emergency descent, the stall warning indicator was heard two to three times.
Landing Sequence
The aircraft made contact with a dirt road in a hard landing. The pilot reported the landing as hard.
Investigation Findings
The operator of the aircraft stated that there was no mechanical malfunction. This conclusion was based on the operator's examination following the incident.