20220418005589A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-140 · Panama City, FL · April 18, 2022

Date: April 18, 2022 · 13:29 local
Place: Panama City, FL
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8891N
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA22LA194
Reported as: Piper PA-28-140
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 495 total

N8891NRegistered now · Piper PA-28-140S/N 28-25755 · Built 1969 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-140 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Shortly after takeoff and becoming airborne, the PIC experienced loss of power when the engine RPM suddenly decreased to 2400 RPM without any input. The PIC performed a forced landing into the trees just to the southwest of sandy creek airpark (75FL) aircraft came to rest on the ground and was destroyed upon impact.

As the FAA filed it

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE PIC EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER WHEN THE ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY DECREASED TO 2400 RPM WITHOUT ANY INPUT. THE PIC PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING INTO THE TREES JUST TO THE SOUTHWEST OF SANDY CREEK AIRPARK (75FL) AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE GROUND AND WAS DESTROYED UPON IMPACT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA22LA194Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPanama City, FLA total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance and inspection of the airplane and engine by maintenance personnel, and the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and runup.Apr 18, 2022 · Substantial damage