Piper PA-28-151 N8392C

Summary

On 22 May 1997 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N8392C was involved in an accident near Sophia, North Carolina, 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 May 1997 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Sophia, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Johnson (72A)

Coordinates

35.8103, -79.8893

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N8392C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hickory → Raleigh

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97LA074

Nobody was injured.

improper maintenance performed by an unknown person, which resulted in the reduction of airflow through the engine induction system and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor related to the accident was: failure of the pilot to attain a proper touchdown point on the runway for a successful forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While flying at 3000 feet, the pilot noted a drop in engine RPM from 2200 to approximately 700. Since level flight could not be maintained, the pilot selected a nearby private airstrip and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane bounced as it touched down on the sod runway, and the pilot noticed an increase in engine rpm. He realized that he could not get the airplane down before the end of the runway; he then elected to attempt a go-around. The airplane climbed to the height of trees on the departure end of the runway and settled into the trees. Examination of the airplane disclosed that electrical tape was lodged in the carburetor induction system. The examination also disclosed that someone had wrapped black electrical tape around the flexible duct material between the induction air filter and the carburetor. A review of approved aircraft maintenance procedures failed to disclose a repair procedure that would allow the use of electrical tape to repair the air duct. A review of normal aircraft performance data disclosed that approximately 600 feet of ground roll was needed for a landing; approximately 1,200 feet of runway was needed to land over a 50 foot obstacle. The pilot reported that the sod runway was 2,070 feet long.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.