- Date
- May 30, 1982, 16:27 local (20:27 UTC)
- Place
- Williamston, NC
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1615PPiper PA-22-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 30, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820530019719A
- Case key
- 73058
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that while cruising at 11,000 ft the engine started missing and losing power. After repeated attempts to restore power the pilot landed in a field. During roll out the nose wheel became lodged in soft sand and the aircraft turned over. Engine examination revealed no compression in the number 1 cylinder due to valve separation. The valve stem was "seized" in the valve guide.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1615P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-2429
- Airframe hours
- 2,162
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Percy Donald Bass
- Registered owner
- Percy Donald Bass
- Departed
- MCZ · Williamston, NC
- Destination
- Edenton, NC
- Airport
- MCZ · Martin County
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 213 total · 96 in this make and model · 161 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 194 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.