# Accident 20181003016659A: Piper PA-24-180, Smithville, TN, October 3, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 3, 2018, 17:00 local time
- Place: Smithville, TN
- Airport: Smithville Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9856° N, 85.8092° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9856&lon=-85.8092&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8371P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8371P-2019-05-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-24-180 (registry code 7102403, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 830 total, 432 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA004) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181003016659A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STARTED THE ENGINE AND CONFIRMED HE HAD GOOD OIL PRESSURE AND FUEL PRESSURE. HE THEN  TAXIED TO THE RUNWAY HOLD SHORT LINE AND WAITED FOR TRAFFIC TOO CLEAR THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, WHICH TOOK APROXIMATILY TEN MINUTES. HE THEN BACK TAXIED ON RUNWAY SIX FOR DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 24.  HE DID A RUNUP, ON THE PULL OFF OF RUNWAY 24 WHICH INCLUDED CYCLING THE PROP THREE TIMES AND A MAG CHECK. HE VERIFIED THAT ALL INDICATIONS AND INSTRUMENTS WERE CORRECT.  UPON COMPETION HE STARTED HIS ROLL ON RUNWAY 24. HE CHECKED FOR MAXIMUN RPM?S AND AIRSPEED COMING UP AND ROTATED AT 70MPH. HE WAS CLIMBING OUT AT 100MPH AND BETWEEN 200? AND 300? AGL WHEN HE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. HE WAS 2/3 THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY(RUNWAY LENGTH IS 4257 FEET), AND ELECTED TO ATTEMPT TO LAND THE PLANE ON THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY. WHILE PREPARING TO LAND HE DROPPED THE GEAR AND TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY. THE GEAR WAS NOT LOCKED DOWN AND IT COLLAPSED UPON TOUCHDOWN. APPROXAMATELY 100 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE MULTIPLE TIMES. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DEPARTED  THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND SLID ON ITS BELLY IN THE GRASS FOR ABOUT 150 FEET.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT, ABOUT 10 FEET HIGH, AND CAME BELLY DOWN ON AN ASPHALT ROAD.   IT STOPPED SHORTLY AFTER IMPACTING A FENCE POST AND TEARING DOWN A BARB WIRE FENCE NEXT TO THE ASPHALT ROAD.

## 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 ERA19LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA004), Oct 3, 2018: Piper PA 24-180 (N8371P), Smithville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to carburetor ice that formed during an extended ground delay.

## Other reports on N8371P (1)

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

- [Incident 19870510058129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870510058129I), May 10, 1987: Piper PA24 (N8371P), San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. Engine hesitated on go around. Aircraft struck the ground on the downwind side of the runway.

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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