- Date
- August 14, 2008, 20:15 local (Aug 15, 2008, 01:15 UTC)
- Place
- Abbeville, LA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8323RPiper PA-28-140
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20080814845969A
- Case key
- 68729
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 total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The single-engine airplane experienced a total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot attempted to restart the engine to no avail. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear, both wings, and engine firewall during the forced landing. The pilot who had purchased the airplane on the morning of the accident, the sole passenger, and the flight instructor were able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane. The fuel selector was found in the "Right Tank" position; however, due to impact damage, verification of the right tank fuel quantity was not possible. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Factual narrative
The single-engine airplane experienced a total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot attempted to restart the engine to no avail. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear, both wings, and engine firewall during the forced landing. The pilot who had purchased the airplane on the morning of the accident, the sole passenger, and the flight instructor were able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. The fuel selector was found in the "Right Tank" position; however, due to impact damage, verification of the right tank fuel quantity was not possible. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8323R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-22194
- Airframe hours
- 4,348
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 2, 2008
- Departed
- KARA · New Iberia, LA
- Destination
- 0R3 · Abbeville, IA
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 1, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 55 total · 1 in this make and model · 16 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 220° at 3 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- KARA, 11 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.