# NTSB ATL91FA142: Piper PA-23-250, N54746, Manteo, NC, July 26, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1991, 06:15 local (10:15 UTC)
- Place: Manteo, NC
- Coordinates: 35.890491, -75.660598 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8905&lon=-75.6606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8332
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91FA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8332/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA142

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF LEFT ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE STALLING OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - airspeed(vmc) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE EARLY MORNING TAKEOFF, FOLLOWED BY POPPING AND SPUTTERING NOISES. WHILE MANEUVERING BACK TO THE AIRFIELD, THE AIRPLANE STALLED, AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AT A STEEP ANGLE. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE GEAR AND FLAPS WERE DOWN, AND THE LEFT PROPELLER APPEARED TO BE FEATHERED. THE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF POWER AT IMPACT. DESPITE SIGNIFICANT POST-CRASH FIRE DAMAGE, NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL ENGINE FAILURE WAS FOUND. CONTINUITY WAS CONFIRMED THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54746](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54746-1992-01-13), registration cancelled 1992-01-13, S/N 277554059 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-7554059
- Airframe hours: 3299
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Brookfield Aviation, Inc
- Registered owner: Brookfield Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000, 1 hours before
- Destination: ISP, ISLIP, NY
- Airport: MQI, Dare County Regional, runway 22, 3,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,600 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MQI, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910726030409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910726030409A), Jul 26, 1991: Piper PA23250, Manteo, NC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost left engine on takeoff. Lost control,impacted trees. Flaps full down. Left prop feathered and gear was down.

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.

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