- Date
- May 25, 1996, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Osage Beach, MO
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N40933Piper PA-32
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960525011559A
- Case key
- 10256
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
a partial loss of power for undetermined reasons.
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
The pilot reported that within minutes of departure the engine started to lose power but did not quit completely. He reported that the engine was barely above idle. Passengers flying with the pilot also reported that the engine did not sputter but continued to run smoothly at partial power. The pilot reported that he was unable to restore power to the engine and executed a forced landing at a nearby golf course. Due to golfers on the fairways, the pilot was unable to land on the golf course's fairway. The aircraft landed in rough terrain and went through a ravine which produced substantial damage to the aircraft. The examination of the aircraft revealed that fuel was available in all four fuel tanks prior to impact damage. The fuel lines to the engine driven fuel pump were inspected and were intact with no leakage. The electric boost pump was operated and it indicated normal fuel pressure. The engine driven fuel pump was bench tested and operated normally. The engine was test run and operated within specifications.
Factual narrative
On May 25, 1996, at 1245 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32, N40933, operated by Sparta Aero Services, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing due to a partial loss of engine power after takeoff near Osage Beach, Missouri. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The 14 CFR 91 flight departed Grand Glaize Memorial Airport, Osage Beach, Missouri, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he had departed Sparta, Illinois, and flew to Osage Beach, Missouri. The distance was about 140 nautical miles and took approximately 1.5 hours.
The pilot reported that he departed Osage Beach about 15 minutes later. He reported that within minutes of departure the engine started to lose power but did not quit completely. He reported that the engine was barely above idle. Passengers flying with the pilot also reported that the engine did not sputter but continued to run smoothly at partial power. The pilot reported that he was unable to restore power to the engine, so he did a forced landing at a nearby golf course. Due to golfers on the fairways, the pilot was unable to land on the golf course's fairway. The aircraft landed in rough terrain and went through a ravine which produced substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot and passengers deplaned without injuries.
The examination of the aircraft revealed that fuel was available in all four fuel tanks prior to impact damage. The fuel lines to the engine driven fuel pump were inspected and were intact with no leakage. The electric boost pump was operated and it indicated normal fuel pressure. The engine driven fuel pump was bench tested and it operated normally. The engine was run and it operated within specifications.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40933
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-74-00025
- Airframe hours
- 3,675
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-E4B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sparta Aero Services
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 2, 1995 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- K15
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
- 18
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 374 total · 2 in this make and model · 120 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TBN, 40 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.