Piper PA-28-140 N589FL

Summary

On 21 June 2013 at about 02:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N589FL was involved in an accident near De Smet, South Dakota, 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

21 June 2013 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

De Smet, South Dakota, United States

Coordinates

44.3858, -97.5517

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N589FL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rawlins → Brookings

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA367

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the engine surged during cruise descent and was not developing sufficient power to maintain altitude. She reported that she performed the emergency checklist procedures, including applying carburetor heat, but that they were unsuccessful and that she then executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a ditch and a rock, which caused the left main landing gear to collapse and damaged the firewall. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies with the engine or fuel system that would have precluded normal operation. Fuel was found on board the airplane. The engine behavior was not indicative of carburetor ice. A test run confirmed the engine's ability to function, and no defects were noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.