Piper PA-28-180 accident near Mansfield, Ohio, November 12, 2001
On November 12, 2001, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N3672R, was destroyed in an accident near Mansfield, Ohio (Mansfield Lahm Regional Arpt). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, and subsequent forced landing. Factors were the carburetor icing condition, night conditions, trees, and the pilot's impairment from ingestion of an over-the-counter antihistamine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 2001
- Place
- Mansfield, Ohio · Mansfield Lahm Regional Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3672R · no longer on the register · serial 28-5775
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger were en route on a night cross-country flight when the engine experienced a partial power loss. The pilot pulled on carburetor heat for about 10 seconds and then with no change in engine operation, returned the carburetor heat to cold and told the passenger he thought the engine was experiencing vapor lock. The pilot was unable to restore full power and struck trees during the execution of an off airport, forced landing. Examination revealed evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. The engine was run and no problems were noted. A check of weather along the route of flight revealed the temperature and dewpoint spreads were getting closer together as the flight continued towards its destination. The spread at the accident site was 3 degrees C. According to FAA publications a temperature spread of 11 degrees C corresponds to a relative humidity of about 50 percent, and there is an increased likelihood of carburetor icing. Further, the FAA stated, "If detected, full carburetor heat should be applied immediately, and it should be left in the on position until the pilot is certain that all the ice has been removed." The FAA carburetor icing chart revealed the airplane nearing conditions of serious icing at cruise power. The toxicological examination found an over-the-counter antihistamine in the pilot's blood. Adverse affects for the antihistamine included, drowsiness.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,519 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 2, 2001; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Monroe Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: RDU Raleigh NC at 9:19 pm
- Destination: MFD Mansfield OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 9,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from MFD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.