- Date
- October 29, 1989, 02:40 local (07:40 UTC)
- Place
- Wytheville, VA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2224PPiper PA-23-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891029043479A
- Case key
- 11563
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 loss of propeller control which resulted in engine shutdown and subsequent forced landing on unsuitable terrain.
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
While in cruise flt at 6,500 ft, at a power setting of 2500 RPM with 21 inches mp, the plt stated he was unable to synchronize the left prop. He stated the prop then decreased to 1500 RPM, surged to 3000, then dropped back to 1500. He attempted to feather the prop but was unable to do so. Unable to maintain alt with power from the right eng, the plt made a forced landing on an interstate. During the landing roll, the left wing contacted an embankment and the acft veered off the side of the interstate. A fire started in the right engine and the right wing was destroyed. Post accident inspection of the left propeller failed to reveal any reason why the fluctuation in RPM had occurred. Nor did it reveal why the prop would not feather. Water was found throughout the left engine fuel system. The props had been overhauled prior to this flt. The left prop governor was bench tested and although capable of operation was found to be operating slightly out it's specified operating range.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2224P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-23-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 23833
- Airframe hours
- 2,589
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert J. Nichols
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 28, 1989 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- 19J · Homerville, GA
- Destination
- CHO · Charlottesville, 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
- 27
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,975 total · 15 in this make and model · 2,742 as pilot in command · 290 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 70° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BLF, 21 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.