Piper PA-22-180 accident near Russellville, Alabama, May 1, 1997
On May 1, 1997 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-180, registered N5778Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Russellville, Alabama. 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1997 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Russellville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-180 · all PA-22-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5778Z · registry record · serial 22-9623
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 4 hours into the flight, while on a long descent to the destination airport, the pilot experienced a reduction in engine power. The power reduction continued over a period of eight minutes and resulted in a complete loss of engine power. Following the loss of power, the pilot's attempts to restore full engine power, which included the application of carburetor heat, failed. The pilot selected a nearby paved road for an emergency landing. During the landing roll out, the right wing collided with a road sign, and the airplane swerved into an adjacent ditch and nosed over. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem. Fuel was recovered from the fuel system. During the functional test of the engine, the engine operated normally through all power ranges. A review of current weather information revealed that weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor icing.
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: 140 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,065 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5R8 Quincy LA at 12:00 pm
- Destination: MSL Muscle Shoals AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from MSL, 20 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.