1993-09-27: Piper PA-23-150 — Fields, Jim — Salt Lake City, UT

Casualties unknown • Salt Lake City, UT, US

Probable cause

A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS INCLUDE A FENCE, AN ANIMAL, AND A DITCH IN THE LANDING ROLL PATH.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT ENGINE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, ESTABLISHED A DESCENT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, AND IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM ENGINE. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS PULLED TO IDLE, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A COW, A FENCE, AND THEN A DITCH. THE POST-CRASH INVESTIGATION AND ENGINE INSPECTION WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE A REASON FOR THE POWER SURGE/LOSS.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1993-09-27 Piper PA-23-150 accident near Salt Lake City, UT?

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT ENGINE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, ESTABLISHED A DESCENT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, AND IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM ENGINE. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS PULLED TO IDLE, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1993-09-27 involved a Piper PA-23-150, registration N200X, operated by Fields, Jim, at Salt Lake City, UT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS INCLUDE A FENCE, AN ANIMAL, AND A DITCH IN THE LANDING ROLL PATH.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X13489. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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