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20091208023129A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-38-112 · Fresno, CA · December 8, 2009

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
December 8, 2009 · 12:48 local
Place
Fresno, CA
Airport
Fresno Yosemite International
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N2539D
NTSB investigation
NTSBWPR10LA074
Reported as
Piper PA38112
Reported engine
Lycoming O235L2C
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
270 total180 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days
N2539DRegistration cancelled Apr 7, 2010 · Piper PA-38-112S/N 38-79A0360 · Built 1978Airframe modelPiper PA-38-112Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

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.

While on initial climb out from fat rwy 20L, the pilot indicated the engine started to backfire and noticed the engine RPM dropping and started to surge around 1800 RPM. The pilot immediately reported the emergency to fat tower ATC and started a descending left turn to return back to the airport. Subsequently the airplane impacted an open field about 400 feet before the approach end of rwy 11R. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and the pilot received minor injuries.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE ON INITIAL CLIMB OUT FROM FAT RWY 20L, THE PILOT INDICATED THE ENGINE STARTED TO BACKFIRE AND NOTICED THE ENGINE RPM DROPPING AND STARTED TO SURGE AROUND 1800 RPM. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE EMERGENCY TO FAT TOWER ATC AND STARTED A DESCENDING LEFT TURN TO RETURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 400 FEET BEFORE THE APPROACH END OF RWY 11R. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT AND THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

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 WPR10LA074Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFresno, CAA total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.Dec 8, 2009 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2539D · 1

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

Accident 20070511006679AGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Mariposa, CA(-23) The pilot in command was taxiing the aircraft back to the runway after landing and decided to take his shirt off over his head because he was hot. During the time when he was taking his shirt over his head he relinquished taxi control to the other…May 11, 2007 · Substantial damage