Piper PA-28-140 N5817U

Summary

On 20 September 1998 at about 14:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N5817U was involved in an accident near Dayton, Nevada, 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.

Date

20 September 1998 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Dayton, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)

Coordinates

39.2605, -119.4809

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N5817U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Klamath Falls

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98LA300

Nobody was injured.

Loss of engine power for unknown reasons. Factors were conditions conducive to carburetor icing and the use of automotive fuel.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had been flying the airplane the previous week with no discrepancies noted with the airplane or engine. He had flown into the airport the day before the accident and had to refuel the airplane with auto fuel because the airport did not provide aviation fuel. The pilot stated that the airplane had been approved to use auto fuel by an STC. The next morning he conducted a run-up with no discrepancies noted. He stated that the takeoff was normal, but at the departure end of the runway the engine stopped. The engine did not sputter or cough, but the rpm's dropped and the engine became quiet. The pilot turned the airplane to the left and made an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine. Witness to the accident stated that the airplane appeared to be at full power, but airspeed was low and the airplane was not climbing. Following recovery of the airplane, grade 100LL aviation gasoline was put into a tank and plumbed into the airplane fuel system. During the first attempt to start the engine, it ran rough. A second engine run was conducted with no discrepancies noted. The engine was examined with no discrepancies noted. The fuel that was removed from the airplane during recovery was bright yellow mixed with blue. According to the carburetor icing probability chart, conditions were conducive to serious icing or climb power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.