# Accident 20201218020679A: Piper PA-28-140, Tampa, FL, December 18, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 18, 2020, 13:20 local time
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9553° N, 82.5284° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9553&lon=-82.5284&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6978W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6978W-2022-12-03) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 965 total, 244 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA081) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201218020679A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 18, 2020, AT 1320 EST, A PIPER PA-28-140, N6978W, REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE POLE AFTER LOSING ENGINE POWER WHILE ON APPROACH DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING TO RUNWAY 01R AT TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FL (TPA). THE FLIGHT WAS A DUAL INSTRUCTION TRAINING FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AFTER CATCHING FIRE AND BURNING, AND THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT IN THE SEAT OPPOSITE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED, AND THE OTHER STUDENT PILOT IN THE BACK SEAT (CLASSIFIED AS PASSENGER FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT) ALSO SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT TPA EARLIER THAT DAY, AT APPROXIMATELY 0900 EST.

06/15/2021 - AMENDED BLOCK 20 OF THIS REPORT TO UPDATE THE PASSENGER'S INJURY FROM MINOR TO SERIOUS. ALSO AMENDED THE AFOREMENTIONED NARRATIVE TO CLASSIFY THE PASSENGER'S INJURIES AS SERIOUS.

## 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 ERA21LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA081), Dec 18, 2020: Piper PA28 (N6978W), Tampa, FL, destroyed. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to the student pilot inadvertently moving the fuel selector to the OFF position.

## Other reports on N6978W (1)

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

- [Incident 19810325019939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810325019939I), Mar 25, 1981: Piper PA28140 (N6978W), Berkeley Spring, WV, Minor damage. Lost control on touchdown rollout due to wind. Ran off 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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