# Accident 19961201036949A: Piper PA28180, Sugarloaf Key, FL, December 1, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 1, 1996, 12:00 local time
- Place: Sugarloaf Key, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 24.6426° N, 81.5115° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sugarloaf Key, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.6426&lon=-81.5115&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9545J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9545J-2013-06-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961201036949A

## Narrative

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

BLACK SMOKE POWER LOSS. STRUCK BRUSH LANDING ON ROAD. SWUNG AROUND 180 DEGREES. ROD CAP DETACHED. INSTALLED WRONG. (-23) AIRCRAFT N9545J DEPARTED KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT 12 PM WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD.  APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE UNUSUAL SOUNDS OF CLANGING AND SMOKING. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED LOSE ALTITIUDE.  THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY TWO WITNESSES ON THE GROUND.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY LANDING.  HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON COUNTY ROAD 939 LOCATED ON SUGAR LOAF KEY, FL, CLOSE TO MILE MARKER 19. AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON ROAD 939 THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT.  THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING IMPACTED TREES AND THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES AND CAME TO REST OFF THE ROAD.  THE PILOT SUFFERED A BROKEN ANKLE AND TWO BONES IN HIS LEFT FOOT.  THE PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR CUTS AND ABRASIONS.

## 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 MIA97LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA032), Dec 1, 1996: Piper PA-28-180 (N9545J), Sugarloaf Key, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: a complete loss of engine power due to a disconnected connecting rod cap.

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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