# Accident 19900831037799A: Piper J5A, Douglas, MA, August 31, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 1990, 16:30 local time
- Place: Douglas, MA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.0543° N, 71.7395° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Douglas, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0543&lon=-71.7395&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38428, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38428-2011-07-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J5A (registry code 7100702, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j5a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J5A
- Reported engine: CONT C8512
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,400 total, 674 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC90LA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA208) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900831037799A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENGINE LOST POWER. FORCED LANDING IN TREES IN BACKYARD OF RESIDENCE. VALVE HAD BROKEN AND FELL INTO CYLINDER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC90LA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA208), Aug 31, 1990: Piper J5 CUB (N38428), Douglas, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE WHEN THE #3 EXHAUST VALVE FAILED, CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT HAD TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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