# Accident 20031121028629A: Piper PA28235, Sweetwater, TX, November 21, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 21, 2003, 08:00 local time
- Place: Sweetwater, TX
- Airport: Avenger Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4672° N, 100.4664° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4672&lon=-100.4664&mi=10
- Aircraft: N56318, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56318-2018-02-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-235 (registry code 7102810, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28235
- Reported engine: LYC O540B4B5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 123 total, 81 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA027) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031121028629A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON NOVEMBER 21, 2003, MR. VINCENT LEE (PILOT) OF AIRCRAFT N56318, A PIPER PA-28-235, DEPARTED HOBBS LEA COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT (HOB) AT 0610. HE HAD OBTAINED STANDARD PREFLIGHT BRIEFING AT 0530 FROM ALBUQUERQUE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION. WHILE ENROUTE TO ABILENE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ABI), THE ENGINE OF THIS AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 7 TO 9 NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF SWEETWATER AVENGER FIELD (SWW), AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 7500 FEET MSL. THE AIRCRAFT PILOT THEN PROCEEDED WITH THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ENGINE OUT CHECKLIST, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE. HE THEN NOTIFIED ABI APPROACH CONTROL OF THIS AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILURE, AND OBTAINED THE WINDS AND THE AIRPORT CLOSEST TO HIS POSITION. THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER REPORTED THE WINDS AND CLOSEST AIRPORT TO HIS POSITION, WHICH WAS SWW. ON FINAL DESCENT, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A STRONG LEFT QUARTERING HEADWIND WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LAND APPROXIMATELY 450 FEET SHORT OF RUNWAY 220. DURING THIS LANDING HIS AIRCRAFT IMPACTED NUMEROUS MESQUITE BUSHES, TWO FENCE POLES AND A WIRE FENCE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON RUNWAY 220.

## 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 FTW04LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA027), Nov 21, 2003: Piper PA-28-235 (N56318), Sweetwater, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power due to a failure of the crankshaft bolt. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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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