- Date
- November 5, 1989, 14:19 local (19:19 UTC)
- Place
- Laurel, MD
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N47759Piper PA-28-181
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891105044309A
- Case key
- 11538
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
Lost of engine power caused by material failure of the number three cylinder exhaust valve. The failure was attributed to excessive temperature.
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
Shortly after takeoff, the acft leveled at 1500 ft MSL where the plt set power at 2450 RPM. According to the plt, shortly afterward a partial power loss occurred. The plt unsuccessfully tried to regain power. He turned back to the departure arpt and he did a go-around when the first apch was too high. According to the plt, as he circled to land more power loss occurred and he was unable to continue the flight. The plt made a forced landing on a highway, striking a guy wire during the apch. Examination of the engine revealed the number three cyl exhaust valve head separated. Fragments of the valve head were found inside the number two cyl. Metallurgical exam of the valve head revealed it was exposed to above normal temp and the fracture was consistent with overstress.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N47759
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7890133
- Airframe hours
- 2,255
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James A. Katra
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 21, 1989 · 18 hours before
- Destination
- ROA · Roanoke, VA
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
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 390 total · 300 in this make and model · 279 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BWI, 10 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.