Piper PA-32R-300 N4552X
10 June 1992 · Denton, Maryland, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 10 June 1992 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N4552X, operated by Robert Wozniak, was involved in an accident near Denton, Maryland, United States. 4 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Denton, Maryland, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.8792, -75.8199
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300
- Registration
- N4552X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Robert Wozniak
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Ocean City → Baltimore
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC92LA107
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO DETECT THE AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE IN THE TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, AND INTENTIONAL REFUELING WITH IMPROPER FUEL BY THE PILOT'S BROTHER WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSE OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO DETONATION AND LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOSS OF ENGINE OIL PRESSURE, AND MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. DURING GROUND ROLLOUT, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DITCH NOT VISIBLE FROM THE AIR AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THREE PISTONS HAD EXPERIENCED THE EFFECTS OF DETONATION. WHEN INTERVIEWED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT INITIALLY TOLD THE SAFETY BOARD HE WAS USING 100LL AV GAS; HOWEVER, HE LATER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HIS BROTHER HAD FUELED THE AIRPLANE WITH AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID HE DID NOT DETECT THE AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE DURING THE PREFLIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32R accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States | Pribyls Wings, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jan 1992 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Edgartown, Massachusetts, United States | Gary Mead | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 1992 | Piper PA-32R-301T | Shafter, California, United States | Barry Zelner Prof. LAW Firm | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1992 | Piper PA-32R-301T | Greenville, Virginia, United States | Butler Air Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1992 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Round Lake, Illinois, United States | Bitton, Daniel A. | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Farmington, Utah, United States | University Research Found. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Aug 1992 | William C Keiling PROBER PIXIE | Cumberland, Maryland, United States | William C. Holbrook | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Oct 1992 | Schweizer 269C | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | Baltimore City Police Dept. | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 1992 | Cessna 210K | Frederick, Maryland, United States | Harry V. Felmey | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Mar 1992 | Cessna 172P | Accokeek, Maryland, United States | Flight International Aviation | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Apr 1992 | Mooney M20E | Adamstown, Maryland, United States | Stephen P. Mueller | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 May 1992 | Cessna 177 | Lusby, Maryland, United States | Dennis Construction Inc. | Fatal | 3 |