- Date
- March 11, 1989, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Birmingham, MI
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4379XPiper PA-28
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890311003659A
- Case key
- 14176
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
An undetermined fuel system blockage. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a suitable forced landing area.
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
A total loss of engine power was experienced during the takeoff initial climb at an altitude of approximately 100 ft AGL. A forced landing was made during which the airplane collided with rough terrain and railroad tracks. The airplane's ignition system was operationally correct. There was sufficient fuel on board the airplane for this flight. Inspection of the airplanes fuel distribution system revealed it to be operationally correct with the exception of the carburetor float bowl which contained no fuel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4379X
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7625037
- Airframe hours
- 1,961
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Raymond N. Borchers
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 3, 1988 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- 7D2 · Troy, MI
- Airport
- 7D2 · Oakland-Troy, runway 27, 3,855 × 50 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
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 336 total · 17 in this make and model · 208 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4379X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.