# Accident 20051106027029A: Piper PA38112, Decatur, TX, November 6, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 6, 2005, 16:30 local time
- Place: Decatur, TX
- Airport: Decatur Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.2544° N, 97.5806° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2544&lon=-97.5806&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2593P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2593P-2013-08-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-38-112 (registry code 7103812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA38112
- Reported engine: LYC O235L2C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 250 total, 150 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW06CA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA022) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051106027029A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 1615 LOCAL TIME, THE STUDENT PILOT, AND PASSENGER, DEPARTED DECATUR MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (8F7) ON RUNWAY 35, WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF PLAINVIEW, TEXAS (KPVW). THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE NOTED THAT THE ENGINE RPM WAS ABOUT 400 BELOW NORMAL AFTER TAKEOFF; HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND SWITCHED THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR AND LEVELED OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 500-700' AGL; THE ENGINE THEN BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND HE SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN, WITH AN OCCASIONAL RESTART TO MAINTAIN GLIDE SPEED.  THE PILOT DECIDED TO ATTEMPT A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING IN A PASTURE, APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT.  THE LANDING ROLL WAS APPROXIMATELY 170 YARDS, UPHILL, IMPACTING A BARBED WIRE FENCE APPROXIMATELY 70 FEET PRIOR TO STOP.  THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, AND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 2.5 GALLONS, ALTHOUGH INTEGRITY OF BOTH FUEL TANKS WAS COMPROMISED BY THE IMPACT WITH THE FENCE, AND RECORDS SHOW THAT THE PASSENGER PAID FOR 12.5 GALLONS OF FUEL PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.  ON SITE EXAMINATION SHOWED NO OBVIOUS REASON FOR THE REPORTED POWER LOSS.

## 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 DFW06CA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA022), Nov 6, 2005: Piper PA38 (N2593P), Decatur, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. 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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