# NTSB CEN25LA111: Piper PA-28-140, N54479, Pearland, TX, March 6, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: March 6, 2025, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX - Coordinates: 29.504342, -95.231049 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5043&lon=-95.2310&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199809 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA111 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199809/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA111 ## Preliminary report On March 6, 2025, about 1145 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N54479, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pearland, Texas. One pilot sustained minor injuries, and the other pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed the Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), Pearland, Texas, and was destined for La Porte Municipal Airport (T41), La Porte, Texas. The left-seat pilot assumed the duties of pilot flying (PF) for the take-off from LVJ. The pilot monitoring (PM), seated in the right seat, stated that he noticed the tachometer was reading about 2,350 rpm during the takeoff roll from runway 14, which he noted was lower than normal. The PM directed the PF to increase the airplane’s airspeed before rotation. The PM stated that the airplane rotated about 65-67 mph, the engine instruments were “green,” and the engine sounded normal. About 200 ft above ground level, both pilots noticed that the engine rpm had decreased to about 2,200. The PM told the PF to pitch for 85 mph for the airplane’s “best climb.” The vertical speed indicator indicated a 100 foot-per-minute climb but then settled to level flight. The PM took over the PF duties. He pitched the airplane to achieve “best glide” and planned to conduct a forced landing to a field about 1 mile from the departure end of runway 14. The engine continued operating with partial power during the forced landing. The airplane impacted a wood pile and came to rest along a dirt embankment. A post-impact fire ensued and both pilots were able to egress using the main door. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Before the flight, the airplane was filled with 47 gallons of 87-octane ethanol-free automotive fuel. The airplane was recovered for further examination. ## 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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54479](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54479), registered now, S/N 28-7425144, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - 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: 28-7425144 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 1915.9 - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Two2fly Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2024 - Destination: T41, La Porte, TX - Airport: LVJ, Pearland Rgnl, runway 14/32, 4,313 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KLVJ, 1 nm away - METAR: KLVJ 061753Z AUTO 13011G18KT 10SM CLR 19/01 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP206 T01890011 10189 20061 58004 ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250306003869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250306003869A), Mar 6, 2025: Piper PA-28-140, Pearland, TX, Destroyed. During take off from airport the aircraft lost power for reasons unknow the pilot directed the aircraft to an open field on landing the aircraft struck debris… - [Accident 20250306021269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250306021269A), Mar 6, 2025: Piper PA-28-140, Pearland, TX, Destroyed. Aircraft took off from Pearland airport and immediately started to lose power the pilot controlled the aircraft to find an open field where they crash landed.… 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.