# Accident 20240113003849A: Pa28-181, Kanab, UT, January 13, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 13, 2024, 13:00 local time
- Place: Kanab, UT
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9599° N, 113.0139° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9599&lon=-113.0139&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2886X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2886X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PA28-181
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A4M
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 450 total, 235 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA076) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240113003849A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS PRACTICING GPS APPROACHES TO THE KKNB KANAB, UTAH AIRPORT.

APPROXIMATELY 14 MILES FROM KKNB, PILOT WAS CLIMBING ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TOWARDS 8,200 FEET WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED CLIMBING AT 8,000 FT.  PILOT APPLIED CARB HEAT AND THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE DECLINED AND PILOT BEGAN NOTICING BAD NOISES.  AFTER 30 SECONDS OR SO, THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE WAS STILL DECLINING SO THE PILOT RELEASED THE CARB HEAT TO THE OFF POSITION.  THE ENGINE WAS LOSING RPM AND BEGAN TO HAVE MORE BAD NOISES.  AIRCRAFT WAS PLACED AT BEST GLIDE SPEED AND HEADING SET TOWARD DIRT ROADS AND THE HIGHWAY WHICH WAS ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY.  AIRCRAFT WAS ABOVE A STEEP CANYON AREA.  IN ADDITION TO THE BAD ENGINE SOUNDS, SMOKE BEGAN ENTERING THE CABIN.

PILOT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF.

PILOT CALLED THE KANAB CTAF AND INFORMED ALL THAT HE WAS HAVING AN OFF RUNWAY LANDING.

PRIOR TO TOUCHING DOWN FULL FLAPS WERE APPLIED

SLIGHT CROSS WIND FORCED THE AIRPLANE JUST RIGHT OF THE SUNKEN DIRT ROAD WHERE THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN.  THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED LESS THAN 100 FEET AFTER IT TOUCHED DOWN IN DEEP SAND.

AIRCRAFT MOVED TO AZC WITH PERMISSION FROM NTSB.

NTSB INVESTIGATOR LATER DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE BROKE A CONNECTING ROD.

## 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 WPR24LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA076), Jan 13, 2024: Piper PA-28-181 (N2886X), Colorado City, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 2 piston pin plug, which resulted in oil starvation and subsequent failure of the No. 3 connecting rod. Contributing to the accident was the…

## Other reports on N2886X (1)

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

- [Incident 20210810013779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210810013779I), Aug 10, 2021: Piper PA-28-181 (N2886X), Altus, AR, No damage. Aircraft N2886X departed ctj at 0700 on August 10th, 2021, with 48 usable gallons of fuel onboard, enroute to E14 with a planned stop at 7M5 for fuel. The…

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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