# NTSB FTW85LA351: Piper PA-32-300, N95RA, Mt. Pleasant, TX, September 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1985, 19:00 local (Sep 19, 1985, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Mt. Pleasant, TX
- Coordinates: 33.159111, -94.97084 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1591&lon=-94.9708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21850
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA351
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21850/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA351

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,injector - improper (cause)
  - fuel system - disabled (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - not corrected, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED HE LOST ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY FORCED LANDING IN A GRASSY FIELD. AN EXAMINATION SHOWED A COLLAPSED FLEX AIR DUCT FROM THE AIR FILTER TO THE FUEL INJECTOR. A FORTY FIVE DEGREE METAL DUCT WAS NOT INSTALLED BETWEEN THE END OF THE DUCT AND THE FUEL INJECTOR. THE AIR FILTER WAS DIRTY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N95RA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95RA), registered now, S/N 32-7440054, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7440054
- Airframe hours: 2335
- Engines: LYCOMING I0-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alex Leon Frazier
- Registered owner: South Plane, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 11, 1985, 158 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total, 53 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F

## 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 19850918049769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850918049769A), Sep 18, 1985: Piper PA32300, Mount Pleasant, TX, Substantial damage. Hard forced landing in field caused damage. Flex air duct collapsed, metal elbow on fuel end missing.

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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