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November 19, 1982 · Piper PA-28-180 · N9103J

Plymouth, MA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 19, 1982
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Location
Plymouth, MA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-180
Tail Number
N9103J
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
NYC83FA030

The aircraft had been repossessed. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to demonstrate it to one or both of the other occupants. Prior to this flight, the aircraft had not been flown since 5/20/82. During takeoff, the engine lost power at about 200 ft AGL. The pilot made a right turn back toward the runway, but the plane crashed in a wooded area beside the departure end. It was in a steep right bank during impact with the trees. After the accident, water was found in the left wing tank, fuel sump at the engine fire wall, electric fuel pump and attached lines, engine driven fuel pump and carburetor. The fuel selector was found positioned to the left tank. Also, the attach cable for the right inboard seat belt was found broken. Samples of the seat belt cables were tested; one of 3 samples failed at 1570 lbs (the other 2 samples tested to 2126 & 2174 lbs). Corrosion was found on the weaker sample.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REPOSSESSED. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PILOT TO DEMONSTRATE IT TO ONE OR BOTH OF THE OTHER OCCUPANTS. PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN SINCE 5/20/82. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL. THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY, BUT THE PLANE CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA BESIDE THE DEPARTURE END. IT WAS IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK DURING IMPACT WITH THE TREES. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WATER WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT WIND TANK, FUEL SUMP AT THE ENGINE FIRE WALL, ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP AND ATTACHED LINES, ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP AND CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK. ALSO, THE ATTACH CABLE FOR THE RIGHT INBOARD SEAT BELT WAS FOUND BROKEN. SAMPLES OF THE SEAT BELT CABLES WERE TESTED ONE OF 3 SAMPLES FAILED AT 1570 LBS (THE OTHER 2 SAMPLES TESTED TO 2126 & 2174 LBS). CORROSION WAS FOUND ON THE WEAKER SAMPLE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:45 EST
Nearest AirportPlymouth Municipal (0nm N)
Runway6
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-180
Tail NumberN9103J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A3A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious3
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 12 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point11 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:00

Appendix: Source Data