Piper PA 24-250 N5923P accident near Monroeville, Alabama

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies.

NTSB analysis

The flight instructor reported that he and the pilot-rated passenger departed on a cross-country flight with 30 gallons of fuel in each of the two wing tanks. While the airplane was about 100 ft above the runway at the destination airport, the flight instructor applied full power to perform a go-around. When the airplane reached about 400 ft above ground level, the engine quit. The engine regained power briefly, but it then lost total power. The flight instructor subsequently conducted a forced landing, and the airplane impacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane, engine, and fuel system revealed no malfunctions or anomalies. Although the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at descent power at the time of the accident, it could not be determined if the power loss was a result of carburetor ice.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA14LA325 for the full record.