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November 1, 1988 · Piper PA-28-181 · N8211P

Alexander City, AL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 1, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Alexander City, AL
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N8211P
Operator
Sun Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL89FA222

ON 10/31/88, THE PLT OBTAINED WX INFO & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FM VERO BEACH, FL, TO HUNTSVILLE, AL. AT APRX 1513 EST, HECTCD ATC & RPRTD CLIMBING THRU 1500' FOR 3000'. ABOUT 2.4 HRS LATER, HE RPRTD A LOSS OF ENG PWR. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED TOWARD AN ARPT, BUT RADAR CTC WAS LOST ABT 13 MI SOUTH OF ALEXANDER CITY, AL. ON 11/16/90, THE ACFT WAS FND WHERE IT HADSANK IN 65' OF WATER IN MARTIN LAKE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ACDNT. THE ENG WAS CHECKED ON A TEST STAND & IT OPERATED WITH THE ORIGINAL ACCESSORIES INSTALLED. PSNL AT THE DEP ARPT INDCD THE ACFT WOULD NORMALLY HAVE BEEN SVCD WITH THE NORMAL RAMP CAPACITY OF 50 GAL OF FUEL. FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS ESTD TO HAVE BEEN ABOUT 10.5 GAL/HR; HOWEVER, REFUELING RECORDS DID NOT VERIFY WHEN THE ACFT WAS LAST REFUELED. ALSO, THE WX COND WAS RPRTD TO HAVE BEEN CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICING.

Full Narrative

ON 10/31/88, THE PLT OBTAINED WX INFO & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FM VERO BEACH, FL, TO HUNTSVILLE, AL. AT APRX 1513 EST, HECTCD ATC & RPRTD CLIMBING THRU 1500' FOR 3000'. ABOUT 2.4 HRS LATER, HE RPRTD A LOSS OF ENG PWR. VECTORS WERE PROVIDED TOWARD AN ARPT, BUT RADAR CTC WAS LOST ABT 13 MI SOUTH OF ALEXANDER CITY, AL. ON 11/16/90, THE ACFT WAS FND WHERE IT HADSANK IN 65' OF WATER IN MARTIN LAKE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ACDNT. THE ENG WAS CHECKED ON A TEST STAND & IT OPERATED WITH THE ORIGINAL ACCESSORIES INSTALLED. PSNL AT THE DEP ARPT INDCD THE ACFT WOULD NORMALLY HAVE BEEN SVCD WITH THE NORMAL RAMP CAPACITY OF 50 GAL OF FUEL. FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS ESTD TO HAVE BEEN ABOUT 10.5 GAL/HR; HOWEVER, REFUELING RECORDS DID NOT VERIFY WHEN THE ACFT WAS LAST REFUELED. ALSO, THE WX COND WAS RPRTD TO HAVE BEEN CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICING.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN8211P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSun Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind90° @ 7 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 1400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time22:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data