# Accident 20120909019859A: Piper PA-28RT-201, Jefferson, TX, September 9, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 9, 2012, 14:30 local time
- Place: Jefferson, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.6978° N, 94.9486° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6978&lon=-94.9486&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2878V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2878V-2021-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28RT-201 (registry code 7102818, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C6
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 811 total, 26 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA623](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA623) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120909019859A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2012, APPROXIMATELY 1500 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-28RT-201 SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE, N2878V, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT DITCHED INTO A LAKE FOLLOWING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR GILMER, TEXAS. THE STUDENT PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AIRLEASE NEVADA, LLC, AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL SOLO FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM FOX STEPHENS FIELD (JXI), GILMER, TEXAS, AT 1400.THE PILOT STATED HE WAS PRACTICING BASIC FLIGHT MANEUVERS IN PREPARATION TO TAKE HIS PRIVATE PILOT CHECK RIDE. DURING A 20 DEGREE BANK TURN AT 1,500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN ENGINE POWER; HOWEVER, HIS ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AND DUE TO THE TREE COVERED TERRAIN SURROUNDING THE AREA, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE INTO A LAKE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED IN THE WATER AND SANK. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EGRESS AND WAS RESCUED BY NEARBY BOATERS.

## 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 CEN12LA623](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA623), Sep 9, 2012: Piper PA-28RT-201 (N2878V), Gilmer, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to the loss of cylinder compression. The loss of cylinder compression was the result of the No. 3 piston ring failure due to excessive heat because of the lean…

## Other reports on N2878V (1)

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

- [Incident 19970104013059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970104013059I), Jan 4, 1997: Piper PA28RT201 (N2878V), Toledo, OH, Minor damage. Narrative: the pilot stated that he was checking out another pilot in the aircraft. When they were on final the pilot in command verbally completed the gump…

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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