# NTSB CEN21LA249: Piper PA28, N8208N, Justin, TX, June 4, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 4, 2021, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Justin, TX - Coordinates: 33.08442, -97.349366 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0844&lon=-97.3494&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: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103213 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103213/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103213 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA249 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons based upon the available information. ## 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-28-140, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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-28-140, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he and a passenger were to conduct three takeoffs and landings in preparation for the airplane to be sold. Immediately after the third takeoff, when the airplane was about 45 ft above ground level, the engine experienced a loss of power. The left wing dropped, and the airplane descended into trees. The left wing separated at the wing root during the accident sequence and the airplane came to rest suspended in the trees. The pilot stated that the airplane had not received an annual inspection in about 7 years and had not been flown much in recent years. A basic postaccident examination found that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. There was a smell of fuel at the accident site. The left fuel tank was intact and contained about 1 gallon of fuel. The right fuel tank was breached and did not contain any fuel. The fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. The pilot was contacted via email and phone on multiple occasions but did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. The airplane was moved to private property and the NTSB was unable to examine the wreckage. Based on the limited available evidence, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2021, about 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA28-140 airplane, N8208N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Justin, Texas. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that the intention of the flight was to ensure that the airplane operated normally before it was sold. He stated that there were 15 to 20 gallons of fuel in each wing tank, which had been fueled about three months earlier. On the evening of the accident, he had already completed two landings on the grass runway and was completing a third and final takeoff when the accident occurred. He stated that, immediately after departure, when the airplane was about 45 ft above ground level, the engine experienced a loss of power. The left wing dropped, and the airplane descended into trees. The left wing separated at the wing root during the accident sequence and the airplane came to rest suspended in the trees. The pilot stated that the airplane had not received an annual inspection in about 7 years and had not been flown much in recent years. A postaccident examination by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector noted that there was a smell of fuel at the accident site. The left fuel tank was intact and contained about one gallon of fuel. The right fuel tank was breached and did not contain any fuel; the fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot was contacted via email and phone on multiple occasions but did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. The airplane was moved to private property and the NTSB was unable to examine the wreckage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8208N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8208N), registered now, S/N 28-25411 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (140) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-25411 - Year built: 1969 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mwh Consulting - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Airport: 3TX2, Flying S Farm, runway N/S, 2,700 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KAFW, 7 nm away - METAR: KAFW 042353Z 08006KT 10SM FEW035 SCT085 BKN110 BKN300 26/17 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP132 CB DSNT SW MOV NW TCU DSNT TCU DSNT E T02610167 10267 20244 56011 ## 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 20210604019049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210604019049A), Jun 4, 2021: Piper PA-28-140, Justin, TX, Substantial damage. On June 4, 2021 at approximately 1730 local, the[privacy data omitted]pilot and a family member were Flying N8208N in preparation for a sale scheduled the next… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103213. 2.4 MB in all. - Correspondence - owner/pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14184466&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=-%20ROC%20-%20pilot-owner-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13704794&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20Airplane%20Unavailable-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14188548&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=-%20Photos-Rel.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.