Piper PA-16 accident near Danville, Georgia, March 29, 1989
On March 29, 1989 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-16, registered N5368H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Danville, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DELAYED IN APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT AFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, AND HIS SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY-LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1989 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-16 · all PA-16s on the register
- Registration
- N5368H · registry record · serial 16-175
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE PWR (RPM) DURING CRUISE AS IF IT WAS EXPERIENCING 'A BAD CASE OF CARB ICE'. THE PLT APPLIED CARB HEAT AFTER THE ENGINE LOST OVER 300 RPM. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE PWR AND THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LDG IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE FIELD WAS UNEVEN, AND THE PLT FOUND THAT HE COULD NOT BRAKE THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A FENCE. TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FROM THE INITIAL PWR LOSS TO LDG WAS ONLY 2 TO 3 MINUTES, ACCORDING TO THE PLT. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED BLACK, SOOTY DEPOSITS ON THE FIRING ENDS OF THE SPARK PLUGS. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CURVES, CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF MODERATE ICING AT CRUISE PWR. THE AIRPLANE WAS STC'D TO OPERATE ON AUTOGAS, AND WAS FUELED WITH A MIX OF 100LL AVGAS AND AUTO GAS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 199 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 167 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1988; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAC Macon GA at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from MCN, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.