# Accident 20200529007239A: Piper PA-24-180, Humboldt, TN, May 29, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2020, 11:30 local time
- Place: Humboldt, TN
- Airport: Humboldt Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.7936° N, 88.8786° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7936&lon=-88.8786&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6989P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6989P-2021-10-30) (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-360
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,600 total, 670 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA198) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200529007239A

## Narrative

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

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 29, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 1130CDT AT THE HUMBOLDT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN HUMBOLDT, TN (M53).   THE AIRCRAFT WAS A 1960 PIPER SINGLE ENGINE COMANCHE WITH REGISTRATION NUMBER N6989P AND SERIAL NUMBER 24-2132.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) HAD ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD.  THE PIC HAD INTENTIONS TO DEPART RUNWAY 22 AT M53 FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT.  SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE PIC EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY SURFACE.  WITHIN A FEW SECONDS AFTER THE INITIAL POWER LOSS, THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER FOR A FEW ADDITIONAL SECONDS FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER POWER LOSS.  THE PIC SELECTED A GOLF COURSE ABOUT 400 YARDS TO THE SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 22 AS AN EMERGENCY LANDING LOCATION.

THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON A FAIRWAY 197 YARDS TO THE WEST OF WHERE IT CAME TO REST.  DURING THE ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT WENT THROUGH A SHORT WOODEN FENCE.  THE AIRCRAFT?S RIGHT WING STRUCK A BRICK FENCE POST SUPPORTING A METAL FENCE SURROUNDING THE SWIMMING POOL AT THE GOLF COURSE.  UPON IMPACT OF THE RIGHT WING, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLUNG INTO THE METAL FENCE WHERE IT CAME TO REST.

A POST-ACCIDENT ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY THE PILOT OR PASSENGER.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO ANY BYSTANDERS ON THE GROUND.  SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED BY THE AIRCRAFT.  NO POST-ACCIDENT FIRE OCCURRED.

## 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 ERA20LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA198), May 29, 2020: Piper PA-24-180 (N6989P), Humboldt, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to contaminated fuel.

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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