- Date
- June 30, 1994, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Granite Shoals, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N30342Piper J4A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940630020279A
- Case key
- 19099
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Fuel system starvation due to the pilot's failure to secure the engine fuel primer. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
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 number two and four cylinders were changed on the engine. A ground test run and preflight did not reveal any discrepancies. During the takeoff initial climb, a total loss of engine power occurred. The airplane was approximately 1/4 mile beyond the departure end of the runway where the land merged with water. The forced landing was made on a street where the left wing struck a tree during the landing roll. Examination revealed the fuel primer control was unlocked and the primer was out 1/2 inch. A test run of the engine with the primer in did not disclose any discrepancies.
Factual narrative
On June 30, 1994, at 1220 central daylight time, a Piper J4A, N30342, was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local maintenance test flight.
The pilot reported that the number two and four cylinders were changed on the engine. Prior to flight no discrepancies were found during a ground operational test run of the engine. During the takeoff initial climb 300 feet above the ground, a total loss of engine power occurred. The airplane was approximately 1/4 mile beyond the departure end of the runway where the land merged with water. A street was selected for the landing. During the landing roll the left wing struck a tree.
The Federal Aviation Administration inspectors' examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed the fuel primer control was unlocked and out one half inch. A test run of the engine with the primer in did not disclose any discrepancies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30342
- Reported as
- Piper J4A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4-1170
- Airframe hours
- 1,292
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Yeilding, Brooks
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 8, 1994 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- 2KL · Sunrise Beach, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,780 total · 1 in this make and model · 1,684 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.