Piper PA-28R-200 N4315X

Summary

On 19 September 1997 at about 23:04 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N4315X, operated by CAP Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida, 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.

Date

19 September 1997 at 23:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Miami, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Kendall-Tamiami Executiv (TMB)

Coordinates

25.6502, -80.4096

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N4315X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

CAP Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Key West → Orlando

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA250

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to properly plan his descent and approach for a forced landing following partial loss of engine power resulting in the aircraft landing short of the intended landing runway. A factor in the accident was improper inspection of the aircraft by company maintenance personnel resulting in a cracked mixture cable hold down bracket going undetected until failure and a missing clamp rubber insert going undetected.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Upon reaching cruising altitude of 8,500 feet the pilot leaned the engine fuel mixture. Several minutes later the fuel mixture began to lean further and the engine lost power. Movement of the mixture control handle had no effect on the engine mixture or engine operation. The flight descended for a forced landing at a near by airport. Upon turning on to final approach the flight did not have sufficient altitude and airspeed to make the runway. The aircraft landed on soft terrain short of the runway and the landing gear collapsed. Post crash examination of the engine showed the mixture control cable hold down bracket had broken near the engine and a clamp holding the cable to the engine mount was missing the rubber insert allowing the clamp to slide freely on the engine mount arm. Manufacturer inspection requirements state the mixture control cable be inspected for security each 100 flight hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.