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NTSB Report
September 22, 1987 · Piper PA-32R-300 · N8799E
Hillsdale, MI
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 22, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Hillsdale, MI
Aircraft
Piper PA-32R-300
Tail Number
N8799E
Operator
Prompt Air
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI87LA217
TKOF AND CLIMB TO 7000 FT WERE MADE ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK. SHORTLY AFTER LVL-OFF, THE PLT SWITCHED TO THE RT TANK AND STAYED ON IT DURING THE INITIAL CRUISE. THE PLT THEN SWITCHED BACK TO LEFT TANK AND ABT 10 MIN LATER THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE PWR. READINGS WERE NORMAL. THE PLT CONTACTED CLEVELAND CTR, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, SWITCHED TO 7700 ON THE TRANSPONDER, SET UP A DESCENT, AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NEAREST ARPT. THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO UNDERCAST AND STRUCK THE TOPS OF TREES WITH ITS LEFT WING. IT THEN ROLLED LEFT, STRUCK THE GRD AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND IN THE EXAM OF THE ENG OR FUEL SYSTEM THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE PARTIAL LOSS OF PWR.
Full Narrative
TKOF AND CLIMB TO 7000 FT WERE MADE ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK. SHORTLY AFTER LVL-OFF, THE PLT SWITCHED TO THE RT TANK AND STAYED ON IT DURING THE INITIAL CRUISE. THE PLT THEN SWITCHED BACK TO LEFT TANK AND ABT 10 MIN LATER THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE PWR. READINGS WERE NORMAL. THE PLT CONTACTED CLEVELAND CTR, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, SWITCHED TO 7700 ON THE TRANSPONDER, SET UP A DESCENT, AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NEAREST ARPT. THE ACFT DESCENDED INTO UNDERCAST AND STRUCK THE TOPS OF TREES WITH ITS LEFT WING. IT THEN ROLLED LEFT, STRUCK THE GRD AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND IN THE EXAM OF THE ENG OR FUEL SYSTEM THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE PARTIAL LOSS OF PWR.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:26 EDT
Nearest Airport5nm NE
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-32R-300
Tail NumberN8799E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorPrompt Air
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 37 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind340° @ 6 kt
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:53
Weather SourceWFAC