- Date
- September 17, 1989, 15:22 local (20:22 UTC)
- Place
- Gordon, AL
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7503JPiper PA-28R-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 2, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890917035129A
- Case key
- 7919
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The improper installation of the fuel gascolator bowl by maintenance personnel, which resulted in fuel leakage and a loss of fuel pressure to the engine.
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 airplane collided with a speed limit sign during a forced ldg on a hwy. the airplane subsequently nosed over and impacted the terrain inverted. Prior to the accident, the pilot had advised ATC he was experiencing fuel pressure problems and had a rough running engine. Post-crash examination of the wreckage revealed that the gascolator bowl was loose, even though the bail-wire retaining nut was safetied in the maximum-tight position. Subsequent investigation revealed that the bail-wire did not conform to the shape and dimensions specified by Piper aircraft. It was determined that the bowl could be tightened down only if the retaining nut was tightened with the bail wire in an off-center position. The airplane had undergone an annual inspection about 1 operating hour before the accident. The mechanic who performed the inspection reported that the gascolator was removed and cleaned during the inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7503J
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-30867
- Airframe hours
- 2,103
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-B1E, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Parmer, Roger K.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 7A3 · Lanett, AL
- Destination
- MAI · Marianna, FL
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
- 47
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 405 total · 190 in this make and model · 366 as pilot in command · 66 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DHN, 24 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.