Piper PA-31-325 N27872

Summary

On 24 June 1994 at about 13:05 local time, a Piper PA-31-325 registered N27872 was involved in an accident near Lantana, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 1994 at 13:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Lantana, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Palm Beach County Park (LNA)

Coordinates

26.5801, -80.0702

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-325

Registration

N27872

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA94FA167

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO DRUGS, HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AFTER EXPERIENCING REDUCED TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO IMPROPER MAGNETO-TO-ENGINE TIMING, AND A PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL NOZZLE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO ROTATE ABOUT 3,217 FT DOWN THE 3,746-FT RUNWAY. ONE OR BOTH ENGINES WERE HEARD RUNNING ROUGH. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 300 FT AGL, BANKED LEFT, PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE LEFT ENG OPERATED TO FULL RATED RPM AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE DAMAGED IGNITION HARNESS, ADJUSTMENT OF THE TURBOCHARGER DENSITY CONTROLLER, AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE MAGNETO-TO-ENG TIMING. THE RIGHT ENG ALSO OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE MAGNETO, IGNITION HARNESS, AND ENG-DRIVEN FUEL PUMP. THE DENSITY CONTROLLER REQUIRED ADJUSTMENT TO OBTAIN FULL RATED RPM. THE #3 CYL FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLE WAS ALSO PARTIALLY BLOCKED BY CONTAMINANT. THE RIGHT ENG MAGNETO CONTACT ASSEMBLIES OPERATIONALLY CHECKED OK. THE CAPACITORS WERE HEAT DAMAGED. RIGHT ENG MAGNETO-TO-ENG TIMING AND INTERNAL TIMING OF THE MAGNETO WERE NOT DETERMINED. PILOT'S TOXICOLOGICAL RESULTS WERE POSITIVE FOR BUTALBITAL (1.768 UG/ML BLOOD, 0.553 UG/ML URINE), AND ALSO POSITIVE FOR ACETAMINOPHEN & SALICYLATE (ASPIRIN) IN URINE. BUTALBITAL IS A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION (BARBITURATE) NOT APPROVED FOR FLYING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.