Piper PA-28 accident near Oroville, California, January 28, 1996
On January 28, 1996 at about 11:37 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N992PK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oroville, California. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to use carburetor heat, which resulted in loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. The carburetor icing (weather) condition was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 1996 · about 11:37 pm local time
- Place
- Oroville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N992PK · no longer on the register · serial 28-22813
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Seven minutes after takeoff, a total loss of engine power occurred, and the pilot made an emergency landing in a pasture. During the landing, the airplane collided with three fence posts and barbed wire. The pilot reported that he had not applied carburetor heat in response to the loss of power. Subsequent inspection of the aircraft revealed no mechanical malfunction, failure, or fuel contamination. After replacement of the damaged propeller, the engine was started and was operationally tested to 1500 rpm. The engine operated normally. About 31 miles south-southeast at Marysville, CA, the 2255 pst temperature and dew point were 55 and 41 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, the reported temperature and dew point were conducive to moderate carburetor icing at cruise 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,687 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 1994; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OVE CA at 11:20 pm
- Destination: Q88 Paradise CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 am from MYV, 31 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.