# Accident 20070222004509A: Piper PA28140, Topping, VA, February 22, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 22, 2007, 13:30 local time
- Place: Topping, VA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5847° N, 76.4486° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5847&lon=-76.4486&mi=10
- Aircraft: N32285, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32285-2007-04-03) (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 O320E3D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 30 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC07LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070222004509A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 02/22/2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 1330 EST, THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 19 AT HUMMEL AIRPORT (W-75) AND ONCE AIRBORNE DID NOT APPEAR TO CLIMB AT A NORMAL RATE. THE AIRCRAFT, AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, WAS BARELY ABLE TO CLEAR A ROW OF TREES AND A POWERLINE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MADE A LEFT TURN AND THEN DESCENDED OUT OF SIGHT AND LANDED IN A CREEK. BASED ON INTERVIEWS, THE AIRCRAFT HAD A HISTORY OF ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT CANCELLED HIS INTENDED FLIGHT DUE TO A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. HE MADE STATEMENTS TO THE LOCAL MECHANICS AT THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER NO MAINTENANCE RECORD ENTRY WAS MADE ADDRESSING THE ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED SUBMERGED IN WATER FOR 48 HOURS WE COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE AIRWORTHINESS FINDINGS IN BLOCK 43 WERE CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT OR A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND BEING UNDER WATER.

## 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 NYC07LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA068), Feb 22, 2007: Piper PA-28-140 (N32285), Saluda, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper repair of the carburetor heat control linkage by person(s) unknown. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to takeoff, with the engine developing partial power.

## Other reports on N32285 (2)

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

- [Incident 20040106002179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040106002179I), Jan 6, 2004: Piper PA28140 (N32285), Sutherland, VA. (-23) The student pilot and flight instructor were practicing power-off stalls when the throttle became stuck at the idle position. Due to the mechanical…
- [Accident 19770708021419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770708021419A), Jul 8, 1977: Piper PA28140 (N32285), Glasgow, KY, Substantial damage. Lndd with no flaps on road under construction. At touchdown eng momentarily regained power.

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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