# NTSB CEN11LA308: Piper PA-28-180, N6492J, Streetman, TX, April 25, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 25, 2011, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Streetman, TX
- Coordinates: 31.870189, -96.320526 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8702&lon=-96.3205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Piper Aircraft, Inc., Lycoming Aircraft Engines, Inc, FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78984
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA308
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78984/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78984
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA308

## Probable cause

The airplane’s inability to establish a climb for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a collision with trees.

## 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-28-180, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and two passengers departed a private airstrip on a cross-country flight. Shortly after departure, the pilot perceived that the engine was not producing power. The pilot checked the throttle, mixture, and electric fuel pump; however, the airplane descended into trees near the runway. The pilot stated that he believed a windshear gust took lift from the airplane or that the engine lost compression or stopped producing power. He further stated that the engine was running, but it felt as if the throttle had been pulled off. A postcrash fire consumed much of the fuselage and thermally damaged the engine, which precluded a detailed examination of the ignition and fuel systems. The airplane impacted several trees during the accident. A small tree, about 4 inches in diameter, appeared to be sheared in two by the propeller. The marks and cuts at the accident site, as well as physical signatures on the propeller blades, were consistent with the engine producing power at the time of the accident. The reason for the airplane’s descent into the trees was not determined.

## Factual narrative

On April 25, 2011, about 1200 central daylight time a Piper PA-28-180, N6492J, impacted trees shortly after takeoff from a private airfield, near Streetman, Texas. The private pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged during the collision, and a post crash fire consumed part of the fuselage. The airplane was registered to Fairhaven, LLC., Meridian, Mississippi and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for the Panola County Airport-Sharpe Field (4F2), Carthage, Texas. The pilot reported that the airplane rotated about 1,000 feet down the runway and climbed quickly to about 400 to 500 feet in altitude. He then let out one notch of flaps and turned the airplane to a heading of 130 degrees. The pilot added that about 1,000 feet from the airport, the airplane lost power; he checked the mixture and made sure the fuel pump was on. By then, the airplane was at tree top level and subsequently collided with trees. A post crash fire ensued; however, the pilot and passengers were able to exit the airplane with minor injuries. The pilot added that be believed a gust from a wind shear took power/lift from the airplane, or the plane lost compression or power. He further stated that the engine was running, but it felt as if the throttle had been pulled off. The airplane was substantially damaged and much of the fuselage was consumed by the post crash fire. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector documented the accident site. A visual inspection of the engine revealed that the engine was heavily fire damaged precluded a detailed inspection of the fuel and ignition systems. The two bladed, fixed-pitch propeller remained attached to the engine. One blade was bent toward the non-cambered side, starting about mid-span. The other blade had “S” type bending, with a 90 degree bend, near the tip of the blade, to the non-cambered side. The airplane impacted several trees during the accident. A small tree, about 4 inches in diameter, appeared sheared in two by the propeller. The propeller signatures and cuts at the accident side were consistent with the engine being powered at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6492J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6492J-2014-01-28), registration cancelled 2014-01-28, S/N 28-4923, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-4923
- Airframe hours: 4332
- Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fairhaven LLC
- Registered owner: Fairhaven LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2011
- Departed: Streetman, TX
- Destination: 4F2, Carthage, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Private, runway 14, 2,027 × 30 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 6, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 20 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observed at: KCRS

## 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 20110425009149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110425009149A), Apr 25, 2011: Piper PA-28-180, Streetman, TX, Destroyed. Mr. Reed was taking off at a private strip with two passengers (his son & son's friend). Acft was half full of fuel. He stated he did not perform weight &…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78984. 16.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 805 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360847&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Reports from Parties to the Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Parties%20to%20the%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Burnt wreckage site (FAA Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Burnt%20wreckage%20site%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Airplane Engine/Prop (FAA photo) (item 6, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Airplane%20Engine%2FProp%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3: Airplane's Propeller blade (FAA photo) (item 7, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Airplane%27s%20Propeller%20blade%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4: Wreckage path (FAA photo) (item 8, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Wreckage%20path%20%20%20%20%20%20(FAA%20photo)-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.

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