On May 17, 2001, a Piper J5A (registration N38646) was involved in an aviation accident near Brussels, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the high vegitation encountered during the precautionary landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a simulated emergency landing practice, a pilot terminated the maneuver at 300 ft AGL, experienced delayed throttle response, and made a precautionary landing in tall vegetation, causing the airplane to nose over.
Incident Summary
A pilot was practicing a simulated emergency landing approach when the airplane nosed over during a precautionary landing. The pilot reported that during the simulated emergency, he had pulled out the carburetor heat and cleared the engine during the approach. He terminated the maneuver at 300 feet above ground level (AGL). When he advanced the throttle, there was no response for a "short period of time, then a halting or missing response." The engine made a "hesitating acceleration." With the airplane at about 200 feet AGL, the pilot decided to land and check the fuel and engine.
Pilot Report
The airplane touched down at 65 mph. The pilot reported that the vegetation was much taller than he perceived, and the airplane decelerated rapidly and nosed over. No further details about the pilot's actions or the landing site were provided.
Engine Examination
The engine was examined and exhibited no preexisting anomalies. It was tested and ran between idle power and 2,600 rpm. The engine's performance during the incident was not attributed to any mechanical failure.