- Date
- July 31, 1985, 21:23 local (Aug 1, 1985, 03:23 UTC)
- Place
- Clovis, NM
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2232RPiper PA-28RT-201T
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850731035369A
- Case key
- 16739
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
While in level cruise flight at 17,000 ft, pilot noticed sound change in cabin. All instrument readings were normal with the exception of manifold pressure drop from 32 to 25 inches. Engine began to sputter and run rough. Oil pressure warning light blinked and oil pressure fell. Pilot saw fire around cowl vents. Oil covered windshield made forward visibility impossible. Pilot made successful forced landing in open field. Engine disassembly revealed no.2 fuel nozzle flowing lean, no. 2 piston burned, and evidence of crank shaft oil starvation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2232R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28RT-201T (PA-28RT-20)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-7931075
- Airframe hours
- 3,629
- Engine
- Continental TXIO-360-FBI, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Wes Tex Aircraft,Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 4, 1985 · 90 hours before
- Departed
- ALB · Albuquerque, NM
- Destination
- LBB · Lubbock, TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- CVN · Clovis Municipal
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 258 total · 26 in this make and model · 184 as pilot in command · 86 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CVS, 15 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.