Piper PA-28-140 accident near Romeo, Michigan, March 20, 1994
On March 20, 1994 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N4373X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Romeo, Michigan (Romeo airport). 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's improper use of carburetor heat. A factor in the accident is weather conducive to 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
- March 20, 1994 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Romeo, Michigan · Romeo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4373X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7625023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported a partial loss of engine power, during the initial climb, following his third touch-and-go landing. He cycled the carburetor heat rapidly on then off and tried different throttle positions. The engine did not recover to full power. He performed an emergency landing in an open grassy area off the end of the runway. Examination of the aircraft and engine revealed no anomalies. Weather conditions existed which were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. A flight instructor, flying in the traffic pattern 30 minutes prior to the accident, experienced power degradation which was corrected by the application of carburetor heat.
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: 222 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 161 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,329 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1993; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,296 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from MT, 14 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.