# Accident 20020910023109A: Piper PA24250, Morton, MS, September 10, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 10, 2002, 19:30 local time
- Place: Morton, MS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.3358° N, 90.2264° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3358&lon=-90.2264&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5724P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5724P-2013-04-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-250 (registry code 7102404, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA24250
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA169) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020910023109A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2002, AT 1930 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME A PIPER PA24-250, N5724P, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AND OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH A GUARD RAIL WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING ON INTERSTATE I-20 NEAR MORTON, MISSISSIPPI FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91, AND VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THIS LEG OF THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA, EXACT TIME UNKNOWN. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND LOOSING POWER. SMOKE WAS ENTERING THE COCKPIT AND A CLANKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING ON I-20 WEST. THE PILOT FORGOT TO PUT THE GEAR DOWN AND LANDED BETWEEN THE E&W GUARD RAILS SEPARATING THE EAST AND WEST BOUND LANES SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE FUSELAGE AND WINGS. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AIRFRAME FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.                                                                                                              (-23) AIRCRAFT MADE OFF FIELD GEAR UP LANDING IN THE MEDIAN OF I-20 (WEST BOUND) AT MILE MARKER 79 NEAR MORTON, MS AT 7:30 PM. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO FUSELAGE, ENGINE, PROP, AND BOTH WINGS. PILOT REPORTED LOSS OF POWER, SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT AND A LOUD CLANKING NOISE PRIOR TO THE OFF FIELD LANDING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED #4 AFT PUSH ROD AND PUSH ROD TUBE WERE BROKEN. MOST OIL HAD PUMPED FROM THE ENGINE, (2 QTS REMAINING). ATL NTSB (BUTCH WILSON) IS COORDINATING ENGINE TEARDOWN WITH LYCOMING TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF MATERIAL FAILURE.

## 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 ATL02LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA169), Sep 11, 2002: Piper PA24-250 (N5724P), Morton, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: Contamination in the exhaust valve guide area which caused the binding of the exhaust valve in the open position.

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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