Incident Overview
On December 5, 2013, at approximately 1500 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-24 airplane, registration N6595P, was forced to land within the city limits of Fair Oaks, California, after its engine lost power. The aircraft, operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal cross-country flight, had departed Salinas Airport (KSNS) around 1400 bound for Auburn Municipal Airport (KAUN). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the pilot was receiving air traffic control (ATC) flight following. The solo pilot reported minor injuries.
Pilot Account
In a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on December 9, the pilot described the flight. He stated that after reaching his typical cruising altitude of 6,500 feet msl and requesting descent to 3,500 feet msl, he reduced the throttle to 2,100 rpm, applied full carburetor heat, and enriched the mixture. Upon leveling at 3,500 feet, he turned off carburetor heat, and the engine immediately stopped producing power. He re-applied carburetor heat but the engine did not restart. He notified ATC and received vectors to Sacramento Mather Airport (KMHR), the nearest airport. Despite a nearly 180-degree turn and continued restart attempts, he could not reach the airport and elected to land in soccer fields at Phoenix Park, Fair Oaks. He performed the landing with the retractable landing gear retracted. During the touchdown, the airplane struck a car, trees, and terrain, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no prior mechanical issues with the aircraft.
Post-Accident Examination
On December 6, an FAA air safety inspector examined the aircraft at the accident site and found no mechanical anomalies. Review of the maintenance logbooks showed no unresolved discrepancies. Subsequent examination of the recovered wreckage on March 28, 2014 by an NTSB air safety investigator, including detailed inspection of the engine, revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather and Carburetor Icing Analysis
Given the weather conditions at the time of the event, consultation with a Carburetor Icing Chart indicated that carburetor ice was unlikely to have been responsible for the engine's loss of power.