# NTSB FTW02LA133: Piper PA-28-140, N6303W, Owasso, OK, April 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2002, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Owasso, OK - Coordinates: 36.266666, -95.783332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2667&lon=-95.7833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54601 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54601/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54601 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA133 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power as a result of the pilot's failure to remove the engine cowling plugs during the preflight inspection. A contributing factor was lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - induction air ducting - blocked(total) (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - misc eqpt/furnishings,protective cover - not removed (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis After departure from a local airport the pilot flew around the area so his passenger could take aerial photographs of a baseball field. Subsequently, the engine lost power and he initiated a forced landing to a golf course. The airplane impacted uneven terrain and trees coming to rest upright and was consumed by a postimpact fire. According to a witness at the airport that the pilot departed from, the airplane was observed taking off with "cowl plugs" still installed on the airplane. An on scene inspection by an FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, located the engine cowl plugs prior to the green. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2002, at 1630 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 single-engine airplane, N6303W, was destroyed when the airplane impacted the ground during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Owasso, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation photo flight. The local flight originated from the Gundys Airport, Owasso, at 1610. The 1,543-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that after departure from Gundys Airport, he flew around the area so his passenger could take aerial photographs of a baseball field. Subsequently, the engine lost power and he initiated a forced landing to a golf course. The pilot reported in an interview, with an FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, that when he was "committed" to land on the golf course, he noticed several berms on the fairway. The airplane impacted the top of a 6-foot tall berm sheering off the left main landing gear, and then became airborne. Approximately 129 feet after the initial impact, the airplane settled back onto the ground and bounced again striking the edge of the green and impacting trees. The airplane came to rest in the upright position and was consumed by a post-impact fire. According to a witness at the airport, the airplane was observed taking off with "cowl plugs" still installed on the airplane. An on scene inspection by an FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, located the engine cowl plugs prior to the green. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6303W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6303W-2002-08-28), registration cancelled 2002-08-28, S/N 28-20346, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-20346 - Airframe hours: 3404.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 2001, 15 hours before - Departed: OK16, Owasso, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 3, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,543 total, 276 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20020429006079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020429006079A), Apr 29, 2002: Piper PA28140, Owasso, OK, No damage. (.19)On April 29, 2002, at 1639 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 single engine airplane, was destroyed when the airplane impacted the ground near… ## Other investigations on N6303W (1) 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. - [NTSB DIA68D0140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA68D0140), Jan 5, 1968: Piper PA-28 (N6303W), Winston-Salem, NC, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54601. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 739 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432683&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432684&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Photo 01: Note the engine air inlet cover prior to the main wreckage. (item 3, .PDF, 950 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40188019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001%3A%20Note%20the%20engine%20air%20inlet%20cover%20prior%20to%20the%20main%20wreckage.-Master.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.