# Accident 20021022032739A: Piper PA30, Middlesboro, KY, October 22, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 22, 2002, 17:15 local time - Place: Middlesboro, KY - Airport: Middlesboro-Bell County Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 36.6106° N, 83.7372° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6106&lon=-83.7372&mi=10 - Aircraft: N8770Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8770Y-2003-08-19) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-30 (registry code 7103002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA30 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD03LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03LA008) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021022032739A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-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. ## 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 IAD03LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03LA008), Oct 22, 2002: Piper PA-30 (N8770Y), Middlesboro, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's operation of the airplane with a known deficiency. Factors related to the accident were the loss of engine power of the left engine due to a failure of the left engine-driven and electric… 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.