- Date
- August 13, 1985, 13:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place
- May, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9912WPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850813070019A
- Case key
- 21823
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt stated the eng RPM dropped to 1500 during level cruise flt at 4200 ft MSL. He could not regain pwr. He diverted the flt and attempted to reach the brownwood, TX, arpt but did not have sufficient alt. A forced landing was made in a rugged, heavily wooded area. A subsequent eng examination revealed that the #3 exhaust valve stem had separated. The exhaust valve head heavily damaged the piston and cylinder head. Reason for the valve stem separation is undetermined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9912W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-23352
- Airframe hours
- 2,466
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James A. Mcswain
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 10, 1985 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- SEP · Stephenville, TX
- Destination
- 21XS · Big Spring, TX
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 63 total · 38 in this make and model · 63 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 97 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.