# Accident 20030605015429A: Piper PA28140, Hamilton, AL, June 5, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 5, 2003, 16:45 local time
- Place: Hamilton, AL
- Airport: Marion County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3889° N, 88.0006° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3889&lon=-88.0006&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44541, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44541-2017-07-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 75 total, 20 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL03LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA103) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030605015429A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ENROUTE TO MUSCLE SHOALS ALA. (MSL) FROM REFORM ALA. (3M8) AT 3000 FEET, MR. RICHARDSON EXPERIENCED LOSS OF RPM. HE TURNED TOWARD HAMILTON (HAB) AIRPORT AND PUSHED THE THROTTLE FULL FORWARD AND THE MIXTURE FULL RICH. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT DEVELOP POWER. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND HE SWITCHED TANKS WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR WITH NO HELP. HE DECIDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD THAT HE COULD SEE. TRYING FOR THE FIELD THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT MAKE HEADWAY AGAINST THE WIND. THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER. MR. RICHARDSON DROPPED THE FLAPS AND STALLED THE AIRCRAFT THREE (3) TIMES TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. ON THE THIRD (3RD) STALL HE FELT SOMETHING GRAB THE AIRCRAFT AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND CRASHED INTO THE TREES, APPROXIMATELY ELEVEN (11) NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE HAMILTON, AL AIRPORT (HAB). THERE WERE NOT SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREWALL.

## 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 ATL03LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA103), Jun 5, 2003: Piper PA-28-140 (N44541), Hamilton, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection by his failure to ensure adequate oil supply, which resulted in oil exhaustion and the failure of the connecting rod cap.

## Other reports on N44541 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19910526023259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910526023259I), May 26, 1991: Piper PA28140 (N44541), Folkston, GA, Minor damage. On takeoff from touch and go pilot felt he would not clear trees ahead. Aborted and ran off end of runway.

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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