Piper PA-22 accident near St. Charles, Missouri, May 19, 2015
On May 19, 2015 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1956 Piper PA-22, registered N118U, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near St. Charles, Missouri (St Charles County Smartt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2015 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- St. Charles, Missouri · St Charles County Smartt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22, built 1956 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N118U · registry record · serial 22-3988
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, while approaching the airport to land, he turned on the boost pump, reduced the throttle, and applied carburetor heat. While on downwind, he reduced the engine power to idle and lowered the flaps. While on the base leg, he advanced the throttle; however, the engine stayed at idle power. He turned off the carburetor heat, adjusted the throttle, and cycled the boost pump but was unable to regain engine power and elected to perform a forced landing to a plowed field. The airplane contacted a ditch at the end of the field, crossed over a road, and came to rest in another field, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel level in the right wing tank was "low" and the left wing fuel tank was about half full of fuel. A test run of the engine revealed no anomalies. The temperature and dew point conditions were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, the pilot reported that he had applied carburetor heat during the descent and that it was on when the engine would not regain power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 256 hours in all; 209 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 223 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 28, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,586.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,801 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SET St. Charles MO at 10:20 pm
- Destination: SET St. Charles MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from SET
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.