20021022032739A

(-23) History of flight: on October 22, 2002, at approximately 5 pm eastern daylight savings time, a Piper PA-30, registration number N8770Y, registered to c r quesenberry inc., p.o box 158, abingdon, Virginia 24212, was involved in an accident in which it struck a house shortly after takeoff on a personal flight conducted under 14 CFR 91 in which VMC conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged, and the pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot holds ATP, airplane multiengine/land/atp, airplane single engine/commercial pilot, airplane multiengine sea/commercial, airplane single engine sea/commercial, type rating DC-3/ATP, glider/private, flight instructor airplane single and multiengine/cfi. The flight originated at Middlesboro, Kentucky (1A6) to abingdon, Virginia (vji) on October 22, 2002, at approximately 5 pm eastern daylight savings time. Synopsis: on October 22, 2002, at approximately 6:30 pm eastern daylight savings time, this office received a call from the southern region com center reporting on injury accident at Middlesboro, Kentucky (1A6) involving a PA-30, registration number N8770Y, registered to c r quesenberry inc., po box 158, abingdon, Virginia 24212. According to witnesses (see attached witness statement), the pilot indicated that the aircraft had fuel pump problems and had previously experienced fuel pump problems on two or three other occasions. Additionally, the passenger tried to initiate a start on the left engine by spraying 100-octane fuel from a squirt bottle directly into an inlet. After the engine was finally started, the aircraft took off and the engine failed shortly after takeoff according to the same witness. The aircraft then struck a house. This strike resulted in left engine departing the airframe and impacting the backyard of the house. The remaining portion of the aircraft impacted the street in front of the house and bounced into the air and struck power lines before coming to rest according to witness statement. See attached witness statements. Injuries to persons: the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries. No injuries were sustained on the ground although the homeowner was taken to a hospital as a precaution. Damage to aircraft: the aircraft was substantially damages as a result of the impact and rescue efforts. Other damage: the house that theaircraft struck sustained major damage. This resulted both from the impact and from fire caused by fuel dispersed into the attic. Crew information: the pilot, clifford ray quesenberry, age 81, holds ATP, airplane multiengine/land/atp, airplane single engine/commercial pilot, airplane multiengine sea/commercial, airplane single engine sea/commercial, type rating DC-3/ATP, glider/private, flight instructor airplane single and multiengine/cfi, pilot certificate number 16327. The most recent 2nd class medical certificate was issued to the pilot on December 10, 2001, and contained no restrictions. According to the pilot's logbook, his total aeronautical experience is about 10,000 iaw isis. Aircraft information: the aircraft, a Piper PA-30, s/n 30-1926, had accrued a total time in service of 5,789 hours. The maintenance records indicate that both engines had recently been overhauled at Lycoming (ED1R109K) l IO-320-C1A, s/n L-5862-55A on 9/29/00, TT1893.3, r IO-320-C1A, s/n L-4771-55A was overhauled at Lycoming (ED1R109K) on 11/20/00 annual inspection was completed on 5/15/02 at 1500.9 tach time. Annual inspection on the airframe was accomplished on 5/15/02 at 5718.9 tt hours, 1500.9 tachtime. The maintenance records revealed no unresolved discrepancies against the aircraft prior to departure.