# NTSB ERA21LA267: Piper PA-28-161, N2143G, Easton, MD, June 24, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 24, 2021, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Easton, MD
- Coordinates: 38.813886, -76.065659
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8139&lon=-76.0657&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Piper Aircraft Inc, Lycoming Engines, FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103329
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA267
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103329/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103329
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA267

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight. After his second takeoff, while turning onto the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, he heard the engine lose power. At an altitude of 700 ft above ground level, he did not think he could make it back to the airport, so he maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing to a field. During the approach, the airplane stalled and impacted a construction area before reaching the field. A postcrash fire ensued. Flight control cable continuity for the aileron, stabilator, and rudder cables were continuous from the cockpit to the respective control surfaces, except for separations consistent with recovery cuts near the wing roots and the tailcone. The engine cylinders were examined with a borescope and minor scoring was noted. No anomalies were noted with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation; however, due to the extent of the postcrash fire damage, the ignition and fuel systems could not be examined or tested, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On June 24, 2021, about 1115 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2143G, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Easton, Maryland. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the student pilot, he conducted a preflight inspection before he and his instructor completed the engine run-up and takeoff with no anomalies noted. They stayed in the airport traffic pattern, conducting three takeoffs and landings before stopping to let the instructor out, so that the student pilot could perform three solo take-offs and landings. After the second take-off, the student pilot was turning onto the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern when he heard a reduction in engine power and could see the propeller slowing down. He was at an altitude of about 700 ft above ground level and had to pitch the airplane forward so it would not stall. The pilot did not think he could make it back to the airport, so he selected a field and maneuvered for a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a pile of metal on the ground. Witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to pitch nose-up before reaching the field, then stalled and impacted a construction area. Ground personnel rescued the student pilot before a postcrash fire ensued. The wreckage was taken to an aircraft recovery facility for further examination. The fuselage above the lower fuselage skin and structure below the floorboards was consumed by fire. The instrument panel, most of the instruments, avionics, gauges, and switches were fire damaged and unreadable. The firewall was separated from the fuselage and the rudder pedal assembly remained attached to the firewall. Flight control cable continuity for the aileron, stabilator, and rudder cables were continuous from the cockpit to the respective control surfaces, except for separations consistent with cuts made during the recovery process near the wing roots and the tailcone. The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft flange. Both magnetos remained installed on the back of the accessory housing; however, both units were consumed by fire. The cylinders were examined using a borescope and minor scoring was noted. No anomalies were noted with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. Due to fire damage, the ignition and fuel systems could not be tested.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2143G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2143G-2023-12-11), registration cancelled 2023-12-11, S/N 28-7916176, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7916176
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 8649
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Trident Aircraft Inc
- Registered owner: Trident Aircraft Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 21, 2021, 8,581 hours before
- Airport: ESN, Easton/Newnam Fld, runway 4, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 16; injuries: serious; student; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observed at: ESN, 1 nm away
- METAR: KESN 241513Z 10009G14KT 10SM SCT060 24/10 A3040

## 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 20210624008129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210624008129A), Jun 24, 2021: Piper PA-28-161, Easton, MD, Destroyed. At Easton airport (esn), Easton, MD, on 6/24/2021 at approximately 1109 local time, a student pilot while on his first solo experienced an engine failure.…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103329. 6.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (operator) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 277 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15729143&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1_NTSB%20_%206120_N2143G_Opr-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15728402&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1_NTSB%20_%206120_N2143G_Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, student pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15457786&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-Pilot%20statement_Shane%20Popko%20(Student%20Pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight instructor statement (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 672 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15454634&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Smotherman%20Statement%20N2143G%20accident_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statement - timeline of events (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15454644&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Timeline%20of%20events%20N2143G%20recap_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15456401&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=investigative%20Photo%27s-Rel.pdf
- Wreckage examination summary (item 7, PDF, 8 pages, 4 photos, 907 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15728887&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21LA267_wreckage%20exam_summary-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 492 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15696039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Wreckage%20Release_N2143G%20Trident%20Easton%20MD_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 9, PDF, 2 pages, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15548055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=213G%20party%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf

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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