# Accident 20150211002219A: Piper PA-28-140, Greensboro, NC, February 11, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 11, 2015, 14:15 local time
- Place: Greensboro, NC
- Airport: Air Harbor
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1711° N, 79.8094° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1711&lon=-79.8094&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5985U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5985U-2018-05-30) (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 PA-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 564 total, 8 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15FA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150211002219A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 ERA15FA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15FA128), Feb 11, 2015: Piper PA28 (N5985U), Greensboro, NC, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power after takeoff due to fuel starvation as a result of excessive wear of the fuel selector valve. Also causal was the owner/operator and maintenance personnel's inadequate…

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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