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20031020028569A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-235 · Mesa, AZ · October 20, 2003

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 20, 2003 · 16:15 local
Place
Mesa, AZ
Airport
Falcon Field Airport
Phase of flight
To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N9338W
NTSB investigation
NTSBLAX04LA021
Reported as
Piper PA28235
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
1,200 total1,000 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days
N9338WRegistration cancelled Jan 20, 2004 · Piper PA-28-235S/N 28-11023 · Built 1968Airframe modelPiper PA-28-235Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot departed ffz on a local VFR flight. Shortly after takeoff the right hand side cowling unlatched. The pilot reduced power and began a 180 turn back to the airport. Tower was notified of his intentions. The pilot's view was obstructed by the cowling. He stated that he reduced the power to keep airspeed low thinking that would help keep the cowling attached to the aircraft. While on short final the aircraft stalled and he was unable to recover before hitting the ground. Airman was counseled. No further action will be taken.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED FFZ ON A LOCAL VFR FLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE RIGHT HAND SIDE COWLING UNLATCHED. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND BEGAN A 180 TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. TOWER WAS NOTIFIED OF HIS INTENTIONS. THE PILOT'S VIEW WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE COWLING. HE STATED THAT HE REDUCED THE POWER TO KEEP AIRSPEED LOW THINKING THAT WOULD HELP KEEP THE COWLING ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT. WHILE ON SHORT FINAL THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND. AIRMAN WAS COUNSELED. NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04LA021Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMesa, AZthe pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Also causal, was the pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to secure the right side of the engine cowling prior to departure.Oct 20, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9338W · 1

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

Incident 19811123083809INormal Cruise · Tilford, SDEngine quit, landed on a road, magneto impulse coupling failed, dowel pin jammed gears. Failed drive gear.Nov 23, 1981