- Date
- June 16, 1991, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sonita, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1429CPiper PA-22-135
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 7, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910616021909A
- Case key
- 27247
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
A loss of engine power due to a broken piston ring in the number 3 cylinder, which resulted in the aircraft's inability to maintain level flight.
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
During cruise flight, the airplane's engine began to run rough. The pilot executed emergency procedures to try to regain adequate power. The power was not restored and the aircraft could not maintain level flight. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with a ditch, traveled about 20 yards, and nosed over. Examination of the aircraft's engine revealed that a piston ring in the number 3 cylinder was broken which allowed blow by in the cylinder. The pilot said that he had vapor lock. He told an FAA safety inspector that he had used automobile gas for the flight and the gas was transported using 'old cans' from his father's house. No evidence was found to indicate that the aircraft's engine had vapor lock.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1429C
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-135
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-1183
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Dennis Kt. Kirby/John C Davis
- Registered owner
- Dennis Kt. Kirby/John C Davis
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- RYN · Tucson, AZ
- Destination
- FHU · Ft. Huachuca, AZ
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 30
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 368 total · 19 in this make and model · 340 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 104 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1429C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.