- Date
- August 3, 1986, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place
- Zellwood, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9716JPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860803085219A
- Case key
- 31686
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 flt sustained eng failure immediately after lift-off & collided with a tree near the end of the rwy. The plt stated that the take-off roll had been 'sluggish'. He said that it was his practice to keep his acft outdoors & to only fuel the tanks to about 1/2 capacity so as to avoid the weight penalty. He last flew the acft about 1 week prior to the accident for about 1/2 hr & he did not refuel after the last flt. During preflt inspection he stated that he drained a quantity of water from the fuel system. He said there had been a lot of rain in the area recently. He stated that he had drained water from the fuel system on other occasions during his preflt inspections. After the accident, an exam of the gascolator revealed the presence of a considerable quantity of water.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9716J
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-3907
- Airframe hours
- 3,012
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas J. Demaintenon
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1986
- Departed
- XO4
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 600 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ORL, 30 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.