- Date
- January 16, 1993, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Poestenkill, NY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7804WPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 25, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930116000569A
- Case key
- 11895
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 total loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons.
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
The pilot stated that he performed a thorough preflight inspection and run up prior to takeoff. During initial climbout, the engine 'died' and the pilot executed a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane hit a dirt bank and was damaged. Examination of the airplane revealed that fuel was available to the engine and no discrepancies with any of the fuel system components were noted. The pilot reported that during a flight eight days prior to the accident, the engine 'sputtered' when in a climb attitude. The engine regained power when in level flight or with the auxiliary fuel pump on. After that flight, a mechanic checked the airplane, but found no discrepancy.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7804W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-1795
- Airframe hours
- 2,522
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thomas F. Zimmie
- Registered owner
- Thomas F. Zimmie
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 20, 1992 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- 5B7
- Destination
- 5B7
- Airport
- 5B7 · Rensselaer Airport, runway 36, 2,670 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 53
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 1,045 total · 90 in this make and model · 990 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ALB, 15 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.