Pilot Debrief

VAUGHN Challenger near Clarksville, TN — 2020-05-16

Final reportERA20LA188
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Date
2020-05-16
Location
Clarksville, TN, USA
Airport
TN23
Aircraft
VAUGHN Challenger
Registration
N97KV
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.

NTSB narrative

The pilot performed the descent, the approach, aligned his airplane with the runway and flew the length of the runway at a power setting of approximately “70 percent.” At the completion of the low pass and a few seconds into the climb, the pilot noticed a “lack of climb performance with full power applied” and performed a forced landing to trees. The pilot stated there was nothing wrong with the performance and handling of the airplane prior to initiating the climb. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to “serious icing at glide power.” Following the accident, the airplane’s engine, which was not equipped with carburetor heat, was successfully run on the airframe with no anomalies noted that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided low approach to prevent power loss during climb.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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