Piper PA-22-135 accident near Franklin Center, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1990
On June 17, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N3393A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin Center, Pennsylvania (Franklin Center airport). It was a personal 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A FORCED LANDING WHICH RESTULED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin Center, Pennsylvania · Franklin Center · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3393A · no longer on the register · serial 22-1651
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON BASE LEG ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT WHEN CARBURETOR HEAT WAS APPLIED. THE ENGINE SURGED AND THEN LOST POWER, AND WAS NOT RESTARTED. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND IMPACTED IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE TEMPERATURE 11 MILES AWAY WAS RECORDED AT 89 DEGREES F AND THE DEWPOINT AT 68 DEGREES F.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1989; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:10 pm from ERI, 11 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.