Piper PA-23-250 N821AC
16 October 1994 · Fredericksburg, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 16 October 1994 at about 16:15 local time, a Piper PA-23-250 registered N821AC, operated by Mitchell, Daniel L., was involved in an accident near Fredericksburg, Texas, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 16:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fredericksburg, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 30.2705, -98.8695
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250
- Registration
- N821AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Mitchell, Daniel L.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Pensacola
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW95LA018
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FIRE, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PROPELLER FEATHERING PROCEDURE, CAUSING THE PROPELLER NOT TO FEATHER AND THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE OUT CAPABILITY TO BE EXCEEDED. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN CONDITIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING THE EN ROUTE CLIMB, THE LEFT ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND LOST POWER. THE PILOT RETARDED THE THROTTLE AND TURNED AROUND TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. HE NOTICED THE ENGINE NACELLE WAS ON FIRE AND HE SHUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY. THE FIRE APPEARED TO EXTINGUISH. THE PILOT THEN RETARDED THE MIXTURE AND PROPELLER CONTROLS, WHICH IS NOT THE PROPER SEQUENCE OUTLINED IN THE AIRPLANE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE PROPELLER FAILED TO FEATHER. DESPITE FULL POWER ON THE RIGHT ENGINE AND MAINTAINING BEST SINGLE ENGINE RATE OF CLIMB SPEED, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED 200 TO 250 FEET PER MINUTE. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED WHEELS DOWN LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TERRACE AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. POST ACCIDENT ENGINE INSPECTION DISCLOSED A LOOSE FUEL INJECTOR SUPPLY LINE, AND HEAT DAMAGE AND A 1-1/2 INCH BROWN STAIN ON THE CLAMP THAT ATTACHES THE TAILPIPE TO THE EXHAUST SIDE OF THE TURBOCHARGER. ENGINE MAINTENANCE, REQUIRING THE REMOVAL AND REATTACHMENT OF FUEL LINES, HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE JUST PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-23 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 1994 | Piper PA-23-250 | Warren Grove, New Jersey, United States | Barbosa, Francisco | Fatal | 2 |
| 4 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-23-250 | Alliance, Nebraska, United States | James W. Furman | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Jun 1994 | Piper PA-23-250 | Blowing Rock, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1994 | Piper PA-23 | Duncan, Oklahoma, United States | Brewer, JIM L. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-23-250 | Margate, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Feb 1994 | Piper PA-23-250 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Proflight, Inc. | No injuries | - |
All 1,716 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-28-151 | McKinney, Texas, United States | Centerline Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 1994 | Hughes 369HS | Mason, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 1994 | Cessna 150D | Mount Pleasant, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-34-200T | Dallas, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jan 1994 | Nelson FORD V-6 STOL 262 | San Benito, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 1994 | Cessna T210H | McAllen, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |