- Date
- July 7, 1993, 10:02 local (14:02 UTC)
- Place
- Madison Heights, VA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7443PPiper PA-24-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 27, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930707022739A
- Case key
- 8751
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
Engine failure due to oil starvation as a result of inadequate maintenance and inspection of the oil cooler lines.
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 flight at 3,000 ft the pilot reported to ATC that the engine was losing oil pressure. While being vectored to an airport, the pilot reported 'engine's going'. Witnesses observed smoke coming from the airplane, and a sputtering engine noise. The engine noise ceased and the airplane was observed to pitch up, bank left, and impact a tree. Examination of the engine revealed oil starvation due to a ruptured oil cooler line. The line was deteriorated near the area closest to the exhaust stack. Maintenance logs were not recovered.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7443P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-2632
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1D, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Andrew G. Smith III
- Registered owner
- Andrew G. Smith III
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 20, 1993
- Departed
- 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
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 373 total · 300 in this make and model · 331 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LYH, 9 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.