- Date
- May 9, 2008, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place
- Thomas, OK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2368YPiper PA-36
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080509832469A
- Case key
- 67993
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
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The disconnected throttle linkage resulting in the loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb. A factor contributing to the accident was the muddy forced landing site.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The commercial pilot had just departed for an aerial application flight when shortly after takeoff the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot reported that the engine seemed to go to idle, and that he was unable to restore power. During the forced landing, the airplane was substantially damaged. A postaccident inspection of the engine revealed that the bolt holding the throttle linkage to the fuel servo was missing. Because of the missing bolt, the throttle linkage became disconnected, and the pilot was unable to restore engine power.
Factual narrative
The commercial pilot had just departed for an aerial application flight, when shortly after take-off the single-engine airplane lost engine power. The pilot reported that the engine seemed to go to idle and that he was unable to restore power. He then maneuvered the aircraft for a landing. During the forced landing, the aircraft was substantially damaged. A post inspection of the aircraft engine revealed that the bolt holding the throttle linkage to the fuel servo was missing.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2368Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36-8160020
- Airframe hours
- 6,442
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-720, 400 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 1, 2008
- Departed
- Weatherford, OK
- Destination
- Thomas, OK
- Airport
- F91 · Thomas P Stafford
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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2008
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 20,537 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 20,317 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- KCLK, 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.