# Accident 20201212021979A: Piper PA-24-180, Nashville, TN, December 12, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 12, 2020, 13:00 local time
- Place: Nashville, TN
- Airport: John W Tune
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.0477° N, 86.9470° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0477&lon=-86.9470&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7639P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7639P) (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: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 48 total, 32 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201212021979A

## Narrative

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

ON 12/12/2020 N7639P DEPARTED ENTERPRISE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KEDN), ALABAMA. PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE AREA THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) COMPLETED TWO PRACTICE APPROACHES AT KEDN. HE INITIALLY FLEW UNDER VFR FLIGHT RULES WITH THE INTENTION OF LANDING AT JOHN C TUNE AIRPORT (JWN), TENNESSEE. DURING THE FLIGHT THE PIC REQUESTED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN DUE TO ENCOUNTERING WEATHER. UPON APPROACH TO JWN THE PIC DISCONTINUED THE IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND CONTINUED VISUALLY. AT APPROXIMATELY 9 MILES SOUTH/SOUTHWEST OF JWN THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED ENGINE ISSUES. THE PIC STATES THAT THE ENGINE RPM ROLLED BACK/STARTED TO DECAY AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE AFTER PUSHING THROTTLE TO FULL POWER AND MIXTURE TO FULL RICH. THE ENGINE STOPPED OPERATING, THE PIC TRIED TO RESTART WITH NO SUCCESS. HE STATED THAT HE CHANGED TO THE RIGHT TANK AND TRIED A SECOND RESTART WITH NO SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFTS LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE AT THE END OF AN OPEN PASTURE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN THE PASTURE APPROXIMATELY 8.5 MILES FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. PILOT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS , FUSELAGE AFT OF THE FIREWALL AND FORWARD OF THE EMPENNAGE, NOSE LANDING BROKEN FROM THE AIRCRAFT, AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED.

A POST ACCIDENT ENGINE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED. ENGINE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT CONTINUITY TO EACH CYLINDER WAS CONFIRMED. INDUCTION AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS FOUND TO BE SECURE WITH NO LEAKS. INTAKE DUCT BETWEEN INTAKE FILTER AND CARBURETOR WAS FOUND TO BE FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS. MAGNETOS PRODUCED SPARKS AT ALL CYLINDERS. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE OPERATIONAL. HOWEVER ONLY APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 TEASPOONS OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL. NO FUEL WAS NOTED IN THE FUEL HOSE CONNECTED TO THE CARBURETOR FUEL INLET.

## 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 ERA21LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA070), Dec 12, 2020: Piper PA24 (N7639P), Nashville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to use carburetor heat during the approach, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

## Other reports on N7639P (1)

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

- [Accident 19850314007699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850314007699A), Mar 14, 1985: Piper PA24 (N7639P), Zephyrhills, FL, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel during local flight. Landed in pasture and struck fence posts collapsing right main gear.

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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