Piper PA-23-160 N4359P

Summary

On 26 November 1989 at about 21:40 local time, a Piper PA-23-160 registered N4359P was involved in an accident near New Bern, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 November 1989 at 21:40

Classification

Accident

Location

New Bern, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Craven County Regional (EWN)

Coordinates

35.1094, -77.0702

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-160

Registration

N4359P

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL90LA032

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO ENSURE THAT THE ENGINE FUEL SELECTOR VALVES WERE PROPERLY POSITIONED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, WHICH LED TO FUEL STARVATION AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER IN BOTH ENGINES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. A FORCED LANDING WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MADE IN A FIELD; THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING ROLLOUT. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT REPORTED THAT BOTH ENGINES HAD MADE A 'POPPING NOISE' WHEN THEY LOST POWER. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. DURING A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE TEST-RUN ATTEMPT, BOTH ENGINES STARTED NORMALLY AND DEVELOPED POWER. THE RIGHT-ENGINE RUN WAS LIMITED TO 55% POWER DUE TO AIRPLANE DAMAGE. THE LEFT-ENGINE WAS RUN UP TO FULL POWER WITH NO PROBLEMS. DURING THE LEFT-ENGINE RUN-UP, FUEL TO THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF; AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE AND LOST POWER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.