Piper PA-28-180 N4979L

Summary

On 29 April 1997 at about 17:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N4979L was involved in an accident near Hazelhurst, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 April 1997 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hazelhurst, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

31.7603, -82.3495

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N4979L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Douglas → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97LA065

2 people were seriously injured.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were, conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice, and the pilot lack of qualification for the flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The passenger/pilot stated that they had about ten minutes of ground operation before the non certificated pilot attempted the takeoff. During the ground operation the non certificated pilot completed a runup, but the passenger was not sure of the complete extent of the carburetor heat check. As the airplane climbed through 400 feet, the engine suddenly quit. The non certificated pilot selected an open field and attempted a forced landing. The airplane touched down in a freshly plowed field about 100 yards left of the departure end of the runway 27. During the examination of the airplane, approximately eight gallons of fuel were recovered from the right fuel tank; no fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank. No mechanical problems were discovered during the wreckage examination. A review of weather data disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The fuel selector was placed on the right fuel tank before starting the takeoff roll. The non-certificated pilot did not have a current third class medical certificate.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.