19970514010799A

Lost power on climbout. Careened off end runway crossed I20. Hit trees. Right tank empty. Selector on left half full (-23) received phone call from comm center at 1910 CDT, 05/14/97, dps in Weatherford, Texas indicated an aircraft took off from Parker County Airport, Weatherford at 1840 CDT and crashed in a field at mile marker 416 on interstate 20. Contacted airport manager kelly barrett, Parker county. He stated that a 1962 PA-28-160, N5140W, SN-28-170, took off and experienced engine problems. The pilot careened off the north end of the runway, proceeded across I-20, hit an embankment and slid into another field across from the airport. I departed our office at 1950 CDT. I arrived at Parker County Airport at 2035 CDT. Mr. Barrett and Mr. Pat crowley, a mechanic at Parker county, and I proceeded to the site. Both gentlemen witnessed the aircraft take-off, climb to approximately 20 feet, and heard the engine sputter with the aircraft in a nose high attitude. The engine momentarily ran again when the nose was lowered. The aircraft nose wheel struck the runway, catapulting the aircraft back into the air with a high left wing, nose high attitude. The engine continued to sputter and run as if intermittent fuel was being supplied to the engine. They saw the aircraft disappear beyond the airport boundary headed across I-20. Both men jumped in a truck and proceeded to the accident site. When they got there, Mr. Lane was standing outside the aircraft. He stated he was ok. Mr. Crowley went inside the aircraft and turned off the fuel (it was on the left tank) and disconnected the battery. Mr. Barrett stated he looked in the fuel tanks. The right was virtually empty. The left had approximately 1/2 tank. The aircraft was in a level position at rest. No fuel smell was evident from leakage. Impact impressions were evident on the north side of the service road. Right wing and nose indentations started approximately 4 feet up from the bottom of the embankment. The right gear was lodged in the dirt. Further impressions indicated the aircraft continued to slide up the embankment and over, hitting the top of a small tree. It continued over the tree as the aircraft was turning to the right, where it ended up pointing to the east. The aircraft did not roll or tumble. Damage consisted of all three gears ripped off, engine cowling, engine mount and firewall twisted and crumpled. The wings sustained skin punctures and bending torsion. The fuselage is crumpled underneath along the longitudinal axis. The interior was not damaged nor any glass broken. Small fragments of plastic and fiberglass were located along the crash path. The nose wheel was located under the fuselage/engine compartment. I checked the fuel tanks. The right tank still indicated approximately 1/4" (inch) of fuel, sitting below the u-channel in the bottom of the tank. The left tank had approximately 1/2 full quantity. I turned on the electric switch and noted fuel quantity indicated more than 1/2 full on both tanks. I checked the p-leads on the magnetos which were connected. The oil dipstick indicated 6 qt. Of oil. All cylinders of the engine were intact. No noticeable leaks of oil or fuel were evident. All hoses looked intact. The carburetor was in the dirt, however, still connected to the manifold. Mr. Crowley stated the engine had approximately 1000 hour's time, but had a top overhaul about 50 hours ago. He stated the aircraft was recently purchased by Mr. Lane. This aircraft was based at Parker county. Prior to this accident, they both stated this aircraftwas in great condition mechanically and physically. He also said that Mr. Lane had taken a biennial flight check Saturday, may 10, 1997, with Mr. Jim justice, a flight instructor at Parker county. Mr. Crowley indicated that Mr. Lane did not purchase any fuel from his FBO while he was owner of the aircraft, however, did not know if he purchased fuel elsewhere.