# NTSB FTW03LA192: Piper PA-38, N9347T, Granbury, TX, August 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2003, 20:30 local (Aug 8, 2003, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Granbury, TX - Coordinates: 32.299999, -97.716667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3000&lon=-97.7167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Flight Standards District Office (SW17), Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 57665 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57665/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA192 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available 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, descent - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis A partial loss of engine power occured during a descent through 3,000 feet MSL. The 11,000-hour pilot stated the engine "ran rough for about 5 seconds, then went to 1,500 rpm." The pilot executed a forced landing into a nearby hay field. Engine continuity, compression and magnetos were checked and verified. The carburetor heat valve was intact; however, travel was partial due to the housing sliding in the clamp. The FAA inspector was unable to verify if fuel system was functional from the tank to the engine because the fuel had been removed. Maintenance records were reviewed and no anomalies noted. According to the aircraft's maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was completed on July 14, 2003. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2003, at 2030 central daylight time, a Piper PA-38 single-engine airplane, N9347T, registered to and operated by private individuals, was destroyed during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power during descent near Granbury, Texas. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from San Marcos Municipal Airport (HYI), near San Marcos, Texas, at 1900, and was destined for the Pecan Plantation Airport (OTXI), near Granbury, Texas. The 11,000-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that during a descent through 3,000 feet MSL the engine "ran rough for about 5 seconds, then went to 1,500 rpm." The pilot executed a forced landing into a nearby hay field, where the airplane landed hard and "flipped three times" coming to rest in an upright position. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the fuselage aft of the cockpit was separated and folded underneath the cockpit area and the right wing. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers were bent. The wreckage of the aircraft was transported from the accident site to Southwest Texas Aviation, North Hangar, located in San Marcos, Texas, and examined by the FAA inspector. Engine continuity, compression and magnetos were checked and verified. The throttle and mixture were intact, and made full travel. The carburetor heat valve was intact; however, travel was partial due to the housing sliding in the clamp. The inspector was unable to verify if the fuel system was functional from the tank to the engine because the fuel had been removed. The owner of the aircraft stated to the inspector that all aspects of the fuel system were operating normally. Maintenance records were reviewed and no anomalies noted. According to the aircraft's maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was completed on July 14, 2003. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9347T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9347T-2007-06-25), registration cancelled 2007-06-25, S/N 38-78A0059, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-38 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-78A0059 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ray Stallings - Registered owner: Russell Stallings - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 2003 - Departed: HYI, San Marcos, TX - Destination: 0TX1, Granbury, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 11,000 total, 4 in this make and model, 10,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg ## 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 20030807021659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030807021659A), Aug 7, 2003: Piper PA38112, Glen Rose, TX, Destroyed. (-23) Notified on 8/7/03 by comm center @ 2230. Talked to pilot @ 2330. Arrived on scene @ 0900, 08/08/03. Interviewed pilot, see attached 6120.1/2. Inspected… 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.