Piper PA-23-250 N330PL

Summary

On 7 September 2006 at about 15:00 local time, a Piper PA-23-250 registered N330PL was involved in an accident near Newton, Mississippi, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 September 2006 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Newton, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

James H Easom Field (M23)

Coordinates

32.3117, -89.1358

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-250

Registration

N330PL

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Newton → Louisville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW06LA207

1 person had minor injuries.

The total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. A factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was attempting to return to the runway following a complete loss of power to both engines during the initial climb after takeoff. Unable to reach the airport, the airplane impacted trees and the ground. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted and moments later the wreckage was engulfed in flames. An examination of the left engine revealed approximately 9.3 oz of water and about 2.1 oz of a blue liquid consistent with 100 low lead aviation fuel. Water was also found in the left engine's fuel pump. The right engine's carburetor and fuel system could not be examined due to thermal damage. According to airport personnel the accident airplane sat outside during a rain storm since it was last flown. The pilot reported that during the airplane's preflight inspection, he sampled fuel from each of the six fuel drains and observed no water contamination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.