- Date
- September 22, 1990, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Palmetto, GA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N44678Piper PA-28-151
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900922041589A
- Case key
- 8277
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 number two cylinder exhaust valve sticking in the closed position, which resulted in a partial power loss during the takeoff. A factor in the accident was the pilot's improper preflight inspection, in that he did not correctly analyze the engine problem prior to flight.
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
During preflight, the pilot observed a vibration after engine start. He assumed he had a fouled spark plug and leaned the mixture. He then shut down the engine. After re-start, he stated that the vibration had ceased. At about 25 feet AGL on initial climbout, the engine suddenly lost power. The airplane collided with some power lines and a trailer prior to impacting terrain. An inspection of the engine revealed a stuck number two exhaust valve. A witness on the ground stated that he heard a 'hissing' noise coming from the engine during the preflight ground run. He also reported that the pilot performed between four and six magneto checks prior to takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N44678
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-151
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7515003
- Airframe hours
- 1,750
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald I. Gammill
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 2, 1989
- Airport
- 8A9 · South Fulton Skyport, runway 9, 2,690 × 40 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
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 730 total · 600 in this make and model · 730 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.