# NTSB CEN11LA161: Piper PA-28-235, N9478W, Matador, TX, January 26, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 26, 2011, 15:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Matador, TX - Coordinates: 34.001945, -100.813888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0019&lon=-100.8139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78229 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78229/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78229 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA161 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-235, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102810), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while the airplane was climbing through approximately 700 feet above the ground the engine lost all power. He decided to land the airplane in a small clearing, but was unable to reach the area and landed in mesquite brush. During the landing, the left wing sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not discover any abnormalities that would have contributed to the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On January 26, 2011, about 1510 Central Standard Time, a Piper PA-28-235, N9478W, sustained substantial damage following a forced landing in a field near Matador, Texas. The airplane was registered to N223BT LLC, Ballinger, Texas, and operated by the pilot. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There were no injuries to the pilot or single passenger. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident, and was en route to Ballinger, Texas. The pilot reported that he had just departed from a small private airstrip south of Matador. Approximately 700 feet above ground level, he initiated a right turn to avoid some towers north of the airstrip. While in the right turn, the engine lost total power. The pilot decided to land in a small clearing, but was unable to reach the area, and the airplane landed in an area of mesquite brush. During the landing, the left main gear and nose wheel separated from the airplane, and the left wing contacted the ground, sustaining substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane by an NTSB investigator failed to identify any abnormalities that would have contributed to the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9478W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9478W), registered now, S/N 28-11211, built 1968 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-11211 - Airframe hours: 3373 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2010 - Departed: Matador, TX - Destination: E30, Ballinger, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 10,160 total, 2,170 in this make and model, 10,101 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 11 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KCDS, 36 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 20110126001419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110126001419A), Jan 26, 2011: Piper PA-28-235, Matador, TX, Substantial damage. On January 26, 2011 N9478W, a Piper PA-28-235, departed a Private strip and climed to 750 feet and executed a right turn at which time the engine failed. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78229. 889 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345697&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Wreckage Exam with 4 Embedded Photos (item 2, .PDF, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345698&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Exam%20with%204%20Embedded%20Photos-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.