- Date
- November 26, 1989, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place
- New Bern, NC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4359PPiper PA-23-160
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891126046659A
- Case key
- 8184
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 failure of the instructor pilot to ensure that the engine fuel selector valves were properly positioned prior to takeoff, which led to fuel starvation and a loss of engine power during takeoff.
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 experienced a loss of power in both engines shortly after takeoff. A forced landing was subsequently made in a field; the airplane collided with a ditch during rollout. The instructor pilot reported that both engines had made a 'popping noise' when they lost power. Post-crash examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any pre-existing mechanical problems. During a subsequent engine test-run attempt, both engines started normally and developed power. The right-engine run was limited to 55% power due to airplane damage. The left-engine was run up to full power with no problems. During the left-engine run-up, fuel to the engine was shut off; after about 30 seconds, the engine began to make a popping noise and lost power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4359P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-23-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 23-1859
- Airframe hours
- 5,137
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Air New Bern
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 4, 1989 · 55 hours before
- Airport
- EWN · Craven County Regional, runway 22, 4,804 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 29
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 495 total · 54 in this make and model · 375 as pilot in command · 213 in the last 90 days · 84 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EWN, 1 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.