# Accident 19990105000179A: Piper PA28161, Lawrence, MA, January 5, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: January 5, 1999, 16:10 local time - Place: Lawrence, MA - Airport: Lawrence Municipal - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 42.7170° N, 71.1235° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAWRENCE MUNI (LWM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7170&lon=-71.1235&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9683C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9683C-1999-12-08) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161 - Reported engine: LYC O320D3G - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 2 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA045) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990105000179A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACFT DEPARTED RWY32, LOST POWER AFTER TKOFF, WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING TOWARD A WOODED AREA OFF DEP END RWY32. (.19) ON JANUARY 5, 1999, ABOUT 1600 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA-28-161, N9683C, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT LOST POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE LAWRENCE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (LWM), LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND IMPACTED TERRAIN IN METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. A THIRD PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT WHICH WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR, SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING RUNWAY 32, THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE LWM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER THAT THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS LOSING POWER. THE AIRPLANE TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT, DESCENDED, AND IMPACTED THE TOPS OF 50 FOOT TALL TREES. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, A WITNESS AT THE AIRPORT STATED HE WAS WORKING ON AN AIRPLANE IN THE NORTH RAMP AREA, WHEN HE HEARD AN "ENGINE THAT DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT." HE DESCIRBED THE SOUND AS A "MURMUR," AND STATED "IT JUST DIDN'T SOUND LIKE IT WAS PRODUCING FULL POWER." HE TURNED AROUND AND OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE ON ITS TAKEOFF ROLL. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE JUST BARELY CLEARED THE TREES LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WENT STRAIGHT OUT AND MADE A LEFT TURN BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT. IT THEN PITCHED DOWN AND DROPPED BEHIND THE TREE LINE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE BY AN FAA INSPECTOR DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL 3-POINT PRIMER SYSTEM. SPARK PLUGS REMOVED FROM THE THREE CYLINDERS WHICH CONTAINED PRIMER LINES REVEALED A "HEAVY COAT OF BLACK SOOTY MATERIAL" PRESENT ON THE ELECTRODES. THE SPARK PLUG REMOVED FROM THE CYLINDER WHICH DID NOT CONTAIN A PRIMER LINE WAS "CLEAN." ADDITIONALLY, THE PRIMER CONTROL IN THE COCKPIT WAS OBSERVED IN A FORWARD, BUT UNLOCKED POSITION. THE PILOT RECEIVED HIS MILITARY PILOT RATING ON NOVEMBER 30, 1998. ON DECEMBER 29, 1998, THE PILOT RECEIVED A TEMPORARY FAA COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH RATINGS FOR SINGLE ENGINE LAND AND INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE BASED ON HIS MILITARY EXPERIENCE. ON HIS APPLICATION FOR AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE, THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN AT LEAST 10 HOURS AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND DURING THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS IN A T45A, A UNITED STATES NAVY TWO-SEAT JET TRAINER. THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT RECEIVED A 1.8 HOUR CHECK OUT IN A PA-28-151, FROM A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. (-23) SEE ACCIDENT PTRS NYC99LA045 ## 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 NYC99LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA045), Jan 5, 1999: Piper PA-28-161 (N9683C), Methuen, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to ensure the engine primer was in and locked prior to takeoff which resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of experience in airplanes… ## Other reports on N9683C (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19950730027009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950730027009I), Jul 30, 1995: Piper PA28151 (N9683C), Roanoke, VA, Minor damage. Ran out of fuel 15 mi short of destination roa. Hit fence in farm field. - [Incident 19930103002119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930103002119I), Jan 3, 1993: Piper PA28161 (N9683C), Lawrence, MA, Minor damage. Attempting to close door on takeoff. Pilot allowed aircraft to drift right. Struck unknown object with wing tip. - [Incident 19920129012119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920129012119I), Jan 29, 1992: Piper PA28161 (N9683C), Lawrence, MA. Pilot lost directional control of aircraft on landing rollout on two separate occasions. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.