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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 19, 1992 · Piper PA-28-160 · N5640W

Lawrenceville, GA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 19, 1992
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (1 fatality, 4 serious injuries)
Location
Lawrenceville, GA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-160
Tail Number
N5640W
Operator
Maynard David W
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL92FA162

The student pilot elected to go flying after finishing work at a local pizza restaurant, which he stated was his habit. His wife and 3 friends accompanied him. He reported that his preflight inspection did not include draining the fuel gascolator, as listed in the owners' handbook. The first take off attempt on the same flight was delayed when the engine quit during runup. The pilot believed the engine had quit because the primer was not fully closed. After pushing the airplane back to the ramp, it remained stationary until a second start was accomplished. During the ensuing initial climb after take off the engine lost power. The pilot said the airplane began turning and diving to the right so, he tried to apply back pressure to the yoke and a little rudder. He stated that he heard the stall warning horn when the engine power decreased. The airplane was equipped with a stall warning light, only. The pilot had recorded 4 flights in a Cessna 152 and 7 flights in the PA28. Passengers on the airplane stated that after take off the nose was pitched up abnormally high, then the airplane rolled and descended to impact. Examination of the fuel system revealed water contamination.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL, AND HIS IMPROPER EXECUTION OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE, HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHEN HE FAILED TO DRAIN THE GASCOLATOR, THE WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL, AND THE LEAKING FUEL TANK CAP.

Full Narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT ELECTED TO GO FLYING AFTER FINISHING WORK AT A LOCAL PIZZA RESTAURANT, WHICH HE STATED WAS HIS HABIT. HIS WIFE AND 3 FRIENDS ACCOMPANIED HIM. HE REPORTED THAT HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION DID NOT INCLUDE DRAINING THE FUEL GASCOLATOR, AS LISTED IN THE OWNERS' HANDBOOK. THE FIRST TAKE OFF ATTEMPT ON THE SAME FLIGHT WAS DELAYED WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT DURING RUNUP. THE PILOT BELIEVED THE ENGINE HAD QUIT BECAUSE THE PRIMER WAS NOT FULLY CLOSED. AFTER PUSHING THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE RAMP, IT REMAINED STATIONARY UNTIL A SECOND START WAS ACCOMPLISHED. DURING THE ENSUING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKE OFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TURNING AND DIVING TO THE RIGHT SO, HE TRIED TO APPLY BACK PRESSURE TO THE YOKE AND A LITTLE RUDDER. HE STATED THAT HE HEARD THE STALL WARNING HORN WHEN THE ENGINE POWER DECREASED. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A STALL WARNING LIGHT, ONLY. THE PILOT HAD RECORDED 4 FLIGHTS IN A CESSNA 152 AND 7 FLIGHTS IN THE PA28. PASSENGERS ON THE AIRPLANE STATED THAT AFTER TAKE OFF THE NOSE WAS PITCHED UP ABNORMALLY HIGH, THEN THE AIRPLANE ROLLED AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED WATER CONTAMINATION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time02:00 EDT
Nearest AirportGwinnett Co.Briscoe Field (1nm SW)
Runway25
Runway Length4012 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-160
Tail NumberN5640W
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMaynard David W
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-D2A · Reciprocating · 160
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (1 fatality, 4 serious injuries)
Fatal1
Serious4
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 20 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightBright Night
WindCalm
Visibility2 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 63 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time10:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data