- Date
- August 6, 1994, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place
- Edgewater, MD
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5242TPiper PA-28R-200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 8951
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 pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to detect water contaminated fuel which resulted in fuel starvation.
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 engine lost power and the pilot forced landed into trees about 1000 feet beyond the runway. The pilot stated that about 15 seconds after lift off, the engine powered back to idle. He reported the loss of power was not preceded with a 'bang' or 'pop' sound. The examination of the engine revealed evidence of water contaminated fuel.
Factual narrative
On August 6, 1994, at 1640 hours, a Piper PA-28R-200, N5242T, a local personal flight, had a loss of engine power and was forced landed shortly after takeoff from Lee Airport, Edgewater, Maryland. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was destroyed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported: "About 15 seconds after takeoff, it felt like engine powered back to idle. I don't remember hearing engine noises, like bangs or pops. Just after engine failure, leveled aircaft, to maintain airspeed of 90 knots. Switched from left to right fuel tank, propeller still turning. I put my hand on electric fuel pump switch to check position, while trying to find a place to land.
"Unable to restart engine, I made emergency landing in trees. Just prior to hitting trees, tried to bank left to avoid tree trunks, and pushed hard left rudder. Plane went nose down in small group of trees." According to the pilot, the airplane crashed 1000 feet off end of runway.
The FAA examination of the airplane disclosed evidence of water at the fuel servo finger screen and that the right magneto was firing on two of its four contacts.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5242T
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-200
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7235203
- Airframe hours
- 4,784
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-C1C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William W. Hanson
- Registered owner
- William W. Hanson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 18, 1994 · 3 hours before
- Airport
- ANP · Lee Airport, runway 30, 2,505 × 48 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
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 295 total · 200 in this make and model · 230 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
Other investigations on N5242T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.