# NTSB ATL92LA002: Piper PA-24-260, N8839P, Sanford, NC, October 4, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1991, 14:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Sanford, NC
- Coordinates: 35.470058, -79.180252 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4701&lon=-79.1803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8530
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8530/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA002

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - single engine aircraft
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, takeoff - initial climb
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY.  HE HAD NO SUITABLE LANDING AREA IN FRONT OF HIM, AND HE ELECTED TO ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT.  AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TURN, THE ENGINE STOPPED, AND HE WAS FORCED TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY LANDING INTO A WOODED AREA. HE HAD ATTEMPTED THE FLIGHT EARLIER IN THE DAY, AND HAD TO RETURN DUE TO A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL PERFORMED MAINTENANCE ON THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM AND THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. EXAMINATION AND TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE AND EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY FAA PERSONNEL DID NOT REVEAL ANY MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8839P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8839P-1993-01-25), registration cancelled 1993-01-25, S/N 244294 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4294
- Airframe hours: 3936
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-54D-D4AS 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Whitehead, Jefferson D
- Registered owner: Whitehead, Jefferson D
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 1991, 19 hours before
- Destination: 55J, FERNANDINA, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 610 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FAY, 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 19911004045139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911004045139A), Oct 4, 1991: Piper PA24260, Sanford, NC, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on climbout. Crashed into trees. No defects except clogged injector and fuel selector o ring.

## Other investigations on N8839P (2)

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.

- [NTSB DIA68F0088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA68F0088), Sep 16, 1967: Piper PA-24 (N8839P), Sanford, NC, substantial damage
- [NTSB MIA66D0256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66D0256), Aug 20, 1965: Piper PA-24 (N8839P), Barnwell, SC, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.