What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On February 11, 2015, at approximately 14:15 EST, N5985U, a Piper PA28-140, piloted by Mr. Frank richard mascia crashed shortly after takeoff from runway 27 at the Air Harbor Airport (W88) in Greensboro, NC. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the pilot suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash. The crash site was located approximately 150 yards south of runway 27. Aircraft came to rest on it's left side wedged between two trees after striking trees approximately 45 feet in the air. The fuselage had crush and compression damage and the aft portion of the aircraft was bent 45 degrees as a result of the aircraft landing on it's left side. The throttle was found to be in the full position, the mixture was full rich, and the carburetor heat was in the off position. Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies and examination of fuel system revealed 2 teaspoons of fuel in carbuetor float bowl and no fuel in the fuel strainer. The fuel selector valve was examined and found to be restrictive and in general poor condition. Examination of aircraft flight controls did not produce any anomalies.
A review of the aircraft records revealed a non-compliance with AD2010-15-10 (control wheel shaft), an incorrect annual inspection return to service entry, incorrect registration of the aircraft, non-compliance with required 14 CFR 91.413 inspection (transponder), and improper engine run after the last annual inspection performed approximately 12 aircraft hours before the accident.
As the FAA filed it
ON FEBRUARY 11, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 14:15 EST, N5985U, A PIPER PA28-140, PILOTED BY MR. FRANK RICHARD MASCIA CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 27 AT THE AIR HARBOR AIRPORT (W88) IN GREENSBORO, NC. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS SOUTH OF RUNWAY 27. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON IT'S LEFT SIDE WEDGED BETWEEN TWO TREES AFTER STRIKING TREES APPROXIMATELY 45 FEET IN THE AIR. THE FUSELAGE HAD CRUSH AND COMPRESSION DAMAGE AND THE AFT PORTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS BENT 45 DEGREES AS A RESULT OF THE AIRCRAFT LANDING ON IT'S LEFT SIDE. THE THROTTLE WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE FULL POSITION, THE MIXTURE WAS FULL RICH, AND THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES AND EXAMINATION OF FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED 2 TEASPOONS OF FUEL IN CARBUETOR FLOAT BOWL AND NO FUEL IN THE FUEL STRAINER. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS EXAMINED AND FOUND TO BE RESTRICTIVE AND IN GENERAL POOR CONDITION. EXAMINATION OF AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS DID NOT PRODUCE ANY ANOMALIES.
A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS REVEALED A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH AD2010-15-10 (CONTROL WHEEL SHAFT), AN INCORRECT ANNUAL INSPECTION RETURN TO SERVICE ENTRY, INCORRECT REGISTRATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, NON-COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIRED 14 CFR 91.413 INSPECTION (TRANSPONDER), AND IMPROPER ENGINE RUN AFTER THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED APPROXIMATELY 12 AIRCRAFT HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.