# NTSB DEN86FA075: Piper PA-34-200, N55654, Bismarck, ND, February 6, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 6, 1986, 11:37 local (16:37 UTC)
- Place: Bismarck, ND
- Coordinates: 46.819057, -100.700576 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8191&lon=-100.7006&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16806
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16806/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA075

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,injector - blocked(partial) (cause)
  - fuel system,injector - contamination (cause)
  - fuel system,injector - corroded (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel control - corroded (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DESCENDING OUT OF A LOW CEILING WHEN IT SUDDENLY MADE AN ABRUPT LEFT TURN. ENGINE NOISE SEEMED TO INCREASE MOMENTARILY AND THEN THE NOSE OF THE ACFT DROPPED TO A NEAR VERTICAL POSITION. THE TWIN ENGINE ACFT CRASHED INTO A VACANT HOUSE TRAILER DESTROYING THE ACFT. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED 2 FUEL INJECTOR NOZZLES OF THE LEFT ENGINE WERE CLOGGED WITH FOREIGN MATERIAL AND CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT OF THE SAME ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N55654 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7350235
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dennis W. Grinaker/Thom Bryon
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 1985, 51 hours before
- Departed: BIS, BISMARCK, ND
- Destination: FAR, FARGO, ND
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: BIS, Bismark Municipal, runway 31, 8,788 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 488 total, 124 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIS, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860206002269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860206002269A), Feb 6, 1986: Piper PA34200, Bismarck, ND, Destroyed. Pilot lost control of aircraft when the left engine failed on climbout. Contaminated fuel in use. Injectors fouled.

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.

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