# NTSB MIA01LA065: Piper PA-28-140, N3978K, Tifton, GA, January 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 2001, 21:40 local (Jan 28, 2001, 02:40 UTC) - Place: Tifton, GA - Coordinates: 31.460578, -83.589859 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4606&lon=-83.5899&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: The New Piper Aircraft, Inc, Textron Lycoming, Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51399 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51399/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA065 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly judge his altitude (too high) during a forced landing to a runway. The pilot made a 270-degree turn in an attempt to lose altitude resulting in a forced landing in a swampy/marshy area short of the runway. Contributing to the accident was a reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - powerplant - undetermined (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis The pilot was in cruise flight at 4,500, when the engine rpm decreased from 2400 rpm to idle power. He turned on the boost pump, applied carburetor heat, and switched fuel tanks with negative results. He contacted ATC, informed them of the situation and declared an emergency. ATC pointed out an airport, and he turned towards runway 15 at the airport. The pilot's approach was too high and he made a 270-degree turn. During the turn he realized that he would not be able to make the runway. He initiated a forced landing to a highway but was unable to get aligned, and crashed into a marshy area. Examination of the engine assembly and accessories, and no anomalies were noted. The engine was started and run at 2150 rpm. ## Factual narrative On January 27, 2001, at about 2140 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N3978K, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a reported loss of engine power in cruise flight, and crashed during a forced landing in the vicinity of Tifton, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries and the private pilot rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Savannah, Georgia, about 1 hour 50 minutes before the accident. The commercial pilot stated they departed Savannah at about 1950, with the fuel selector on the right fuel tank. They climbed to 4,500 feet heading 270 degrees magnetic and contacted Jacksonville Center for VFR flight following. At about 2135 the engine rpm decreased from 2400 rpm to idle power. He turned the boost pump on, applied carburetor heat, and switched the fuel tank to the left fuel tank. There was no change in engine rpm. He notified Jacksonville Center they had a loss of engine power and declared an emergency. Jacksonville Center pointed out Tifton Airport, and he turned towards runway 15. His approach was too high and he made a 270 degree turn. During the turn he realized he would not be able to make the runway, he initiated a forced landing to a highway but was unable to get aligned, and crashed into a marshy area. Examination of the engine assembly and accessories was conducted at Atlanta Air Salvage in Griffin , Georgia, on January 31, 2001. No anomalies were noted. The engine was started and run at 2150 rpm. The magnetos were checked and a 100 rpm drop was noted on each magneto. (For additional information see Piper Air Safety Investigation Department Single Engine Accident Report, an attachment to this report.) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3978K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3978K-2014-10-06), registration cancelled 2014-10-06, S/N 28-23864, built 1967 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-238104 - Airframe hours: 4338 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rockston O. Thomas - Registered owner: Aaron P. Sawyer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 1, 2000, 69 hours before - Departed: SAV, Savannah, GA - Destination: EDN, Enterprise, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 451 total, 8 in this make and model, 305 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: ABY, 50 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 20010127002159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010127002159A), Jan 27, 2001: Piper PA28140, Tifton, GA, No damage. (-23) Piper PA-28-140, N3978K, enroute from savannah, Georgia (svn) to enterprise, al(edn) at 4,500 feet and magnetic heading of 270 degrees on a flight… ## Other investigations on N3978K (1) 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 NYC72DIG17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72DIG17), Dec 31, 1971: Piper PA-28 (N3978K), Montgomery, MD, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.