Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the throttle linkage. A related factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said the throttle linkage broke while the airplane was in cruise flight. Engine power dropped to idle and the pilot was forced to land in a hay field. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with bales of hay and a pivot sprinkler.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 25, 1996, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, a Cresap Early Bird Jenny, N12JN, was destroyed during a forced landing near Kersey, Colorado. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated approximately 30 minutes before the accident. The pilot was sent NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, to be completed and returned. After a reasonable period of time, the pilot was contacted and advised the report had not been received. The pilot claimed he had completed the report and put it in the mail. He adamantly refused to complete another report. According to a verbal statement made by the pilot to FAA inspectors, the throttle linkage broke while the airplane was in cruise flight. Engine power dropped to idle and the pilot was forced to land in a hay field. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with bales of hay and a pivot sprinkler and was destroyed. FAA inspectors examined the airplane and confirmed the throttle linkage had broken. -