# NTSB MIA91LA180: Piper PA-24-180, N5953P, Valparaiso, FL, July 6, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 6, 1991, 08:19 local (13:19 UTC)
- Place: Valparaiso, FL
- Coordinates: 30.490934, -86.499481 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4909&lon=-86.4995&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 10, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32897
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA180
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32897/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA180

## Probable cause

PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,water - contamination (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLT AT A NEARBY ARPT.  THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE 20 MINUTE RETURN FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. BEFORE DEPARTURE ON A LOCAL FLT, THE FUEL TANKS WERE CHECKED FOR CONTAMINANTS; NONE WERE FOUND.  THE FLT DEPARTED, PERFORMED ONE TOUCH AND GO LANDING, AND THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING CROSSWIND, THE ENG LOST POWER. HE THEN LANDED THE ACFT GEAR UP ON A TAXIWAY. THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE CARBURETOR BOWL WAS DRAINED 2 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT WHICH REVEALED ABOUT 130 ML OF FUEL AND 20 ML OF WATER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5953P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5953P-1993-04-07), registration cancelled 1993-04-07, S/N 241044 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-1044
- Airframe hours: 3538
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Boles, Lyman M.
- Registered owner: Boles, Lyman M.
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1991, 1 hours before
- Airport: VPS, Eglin Afb

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; airline transport, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,654 total, 181 in this make and model, 3,536 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VPS, 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 19910706029329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910706029329A), Jul 6, 1991: Piper PA24, Valparaiso, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit on downwind. Landed gear up on taxiway. Found water in fuel.

## Other investigations on N5953P (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 MIA68F0358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68F0358), Oct 14, 1967: Piper PA-24 (N5953P), Charleston, SC, 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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