Piper PA-28-151 N41422

Summary

On 22 March 1993 at about 18:25 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N41422, operated by Kenneth J Winiarski JR., was involved in an accident near Monticello, Maine, United States. One person was 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

22 March 1993 at 18:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Monticello, Maine, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N41422

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kenneth J Winiarski JR.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Presque Isle → Houlton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO93LA055

Nobody was injured.

A DISCONNECTION OF THE FUEL LINE, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A RELATED FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE FLIGHT WAS CRUISING AT 1300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE STATED THAT BEFORE THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, HE NOTICED THE SMELL OF FUEL. HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE USING THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT STATED THAT A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD COVERED WITH ABOUT 5 TO 6 FEET OF SNOW. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE SIDE OF A STEEP HILL SEPARATING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AND TWISTING THE LEFT WING. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED A DISCONNECTION OF THE LINE FITTING IN THE FUEL LINE LEADING TO THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.