# NTSB FTW90FA119: Piper PA-28-140, N6767W, Bossier City, LA, June 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 18, 1990, 09:24 local (14:24 UTC)
- Place: Bossier City, LA
- Coordinates: 32.569046, -93.700042 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5690&lon=-93.7000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 13, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 78-09-07 R3](https://openairdocs.org/ad/78-09-07-R3), [AD 82-20-01](https://openairdocs.org/ad/82-20-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23023
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA119
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23023/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA119

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - maintenance,overhaul,major - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - climb - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - not possible
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - residence (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER TAKOFF FM RWY 14, THE ACFT WAS SEEN CLIMBING IN A STEEP NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AT SLOW SPEED. A WITNESS RPRTD IT RCHD AN ALT OF ABT 75' TO 100' & MAINTD THAT ALT FOR APRX 1/2 MI. IT THEN DSCNDD & HIT THE TOPS OF SVRL TREES, THE ROOF OF A HOUSE & THE GND. AFTER COMING TO REST, THE ACFT WAS BADLY DMGD BY FIRE. ONE WITNESS RPRTD THE ENG SPUTTERED AT ABT THE TIME IT HIT THE TREETOPS. ANOTHER INDCD THE ENG WAS CUTTING OUT. A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED A NUMBER OF MAINT DISCREPANCIES. MAG TIMING COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED, DUE TO FIRE DMG, BUT THE LEFT MAG WAS ADJUSTED W/I 1/16' OF FULL UP TRAVEL (IN THE ADJUSTMENT SLOT); THE RGT MAG WAS W/I 1/8' OF FULL DWN TRAVEL. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A MAG INSPN IAW AD 78-09-07 OR COMPLIANCE WITH AD 82-20-01; THE #3T SPRING WAS MISSING FM THE RGT MAG DISTRIBUTOR BLOCK, HYD TAPPETS WERE OF MIXED PARTS, & ONE CONNECTING ROD WAS OF A DIFFERENT WT & PART NO. THE ENG HAD 93 HRS OF FLT TIME SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL. ALSO, THE DENSITY ALT WAS ABT 3000' & THE ACFT HAD BEEN LOADED NEAR ITS MAX WT LIMIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6767W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6767W-1991-02-01), registration cancelled 1991-02-01, S/N 2820894 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-20894
- Airframe hours: 2418
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Walker, James E., doing business as Air American, Inc.
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1990, 27 hours before
- Departed: DTN, SHREVEPORT, LA
- Destination: BHM, BIRMINGHAM, AL
- Airport: DTN, Shreveport Downtown, runway 12, 4,493 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 53 total, 3 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DTN, 1 nm away

## 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 19900618020669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900618020669A), Jun 18, 1990: Piper PA28140, Shreveport, LA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Partial power loss on takeoff.

## Other investigations on N6767W (2)

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 ATL87LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA075), Feb 21, 1987: Piper PA-28-140 (N6767W), Hixson, TN, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW77FPG20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77FPG20), Mar 15, 1977: Piper PA-28 (N6767W), Little Rock, AR, substantial damage

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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