# Accident 20161223022799A: Piper PA-28-161, Middlebury, VT, December 23, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 23, 2016, 11:47 local time
- Place: Middlebury, VT
- Airport: Middlebury State
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.9814° N, 73.0944° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9814&lon=-73.0944&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31202, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31202-2019-09-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (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-28-161
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 750 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA072) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161223022799A

## Narrative

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

WITNESS REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE WAS "SPUTTERING", THEN ?LOOPED IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION? AND WAS ?GOING DOWN FAST.? UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS DRAINED FROM TREE IMPACT. LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE. RIGHT WING FUEL CAP SEAL HAD CRACKS OUTWARD AROUND SEAL. RIGHT WING FUEL CAP WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. BROWN STAIN FOUND AROUND RIGHT WING FUEL TANK DRAIN AND LEFT WING TANK DRAIN DESTROYED BY FIRE. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR. LYCOMING REPRESENTATIVE CONDUCTED A TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF ENGINE FAILURE.

## 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 ERA17FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA072), Dec 23, 2016: Piper PA28 (N31202), Middlebury, VT, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to return to the airport following a partial or complete loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb and his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while…

## Other reports on N31202 (1)

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

- [Incident 19990325015559I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990325015559I), Mar 25, 1999: Piper PA28161 (N31202), Old Bridge, NJ, Minor damage. A normal preflight was conducted and was considered through including a weather briefing from the national weather service. Indicated gusty winds and a severe…

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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