Columbia LC41-550FG N1393T

Summary

On 5 January 2011 at about 16:45 local time, a Columbia LC41-550FG registered N1393T, operated by Paradise Leasing Inc, was involved in an accident near Midlothian, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 January 2011 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Midlothian, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Eagle's Nest Estates (2TS6)

Coordinates

32.5197, -96.9278

Aircraft

Columbia LC41-550FG

Registration

N1393T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Paradise Leasing Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Midlothian → El Dorado

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11FA141

2 people died.

The engine's loss of power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because no engine anomalies were discovered during the postaccident examination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff, a witness heard the airplane's engine stall and saw dark smoke emanate from the airplane. The witness observed the airplane turn left and heard sounds similar to the engine attempting to restart as the airplane descended and collided with the ground. Signatures at the accident scene were consistent with an aerodynamic stall prior to impact. The electric fuel boost pump had been impact-damaged and performance at the low flow setting could not be tested. The pump operated within limits at its high flow setting. An examination of the engine revealed dark, black sooting on the spark plugs, indicating a rich fuel setting. In addition, a clamp securing the rubber hose between the left intercooler and aft intercooler induction tubes was found set to a smaller diameter than the combined diameter of the induction tube and rubber hose, which would have reduced the turbocharger's efficiency. No further anomalies were found with the airframe or engine. An autopsy of the pilot noted that "[m]yocarditis may or may not have caused a cardiac event, i.e. arrhythmia, prior to the plane crash." The investigation was unable to determine definitively whether pilot incapacitation occurred; however, the engine failure would not be attributed to the pilot’s performance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.