# NTSB BFO90LA026: Piper PA-28-235, N8521W, Tappahannock, VA, February 14, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 14, 1990, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Tappahannock, VA
- Coordinates: 37.919231, -76.859985 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9192&lon=-76.8600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11579
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11579/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA026

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF FIXED BASE OPERATOR (FBO) PERSONNEL TO ASSURE THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FREE OF WATER, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO INSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROPERLY PREFLIGHTED.  SOFT/MARSHY TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, fbo personnel (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON MARSHY TERRAIN.  THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL.  WATER WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR AND ABOUT 5 GALLONS OF WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REFUELED FROM.  THE ENGINE WAS RUN SUCCESSFULLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8521W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8521W-1992-09-26), registration cancelled 1992-09-26, S/N 2810022 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-10022
- Airframe hours: 2682
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles S. Whaley
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1989, 14 hours before
- Departed: W79, TAPPAHANNOCK, VA
- Airport: W79, Tappahannock Muni, runway 20, 2,875 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 18 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RIC, 33 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 19900214002219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900214002219A), Feb 14, 1990: Piper PA28235, Tappahannock, VA, Substantial damage. Lost power on takeoff. CFI took over. Landed in marsh. Nosed over. 5 gal of water in fuel system. Water at source.

## Other investigations on N8521W (1)

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 MKC65F0153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC65F0153), Jan 21, 1965: Piper PA-28 (N8521W), Webb City, MO, 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.

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