# NTSB MIA94LA056: Piper PA-28-180, N2338T, Boynton Beach, FL, January 17, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1994, 10:17 local (15:17 UTC)
- Place: Boynton Beach, FL
- Location: 26.5550° N, 79.9978° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from PALM BEACH COUNTY PARK (LNA), within about 2 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5550&lon=-79.9978&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37483
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37483/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA056

## Probable cause

PARTIAL 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, climb - to cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Ditching, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT BEFORE DEPARTURE THE FUEL TANKS EACH CONTAINED 20 GALLONS OF FUEL AND HE PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH INCLUDED CHECKING THE FUEL TANKS FOR CONTAMINANTS; NONE WERE FOUND.  BEFORE DEPARTURE HE ALSO PERFORMED AN ENGINE RUN-UP AND EACH MAGNETO DROP WAS NO MORE THAN 50 RPM WITH A DIFFERENTIAL DROP OF NO MORE THAN 25 RPM.  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED RUNWAY 9 CLIMBED TO 1,000 FEET AND THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND BEGAN TO BACKFIRE.  THE PILOT REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR, TURNED ON THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP, BUT DID NOT CHECK THE MAGNETOS NOR APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT.  THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.  THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED; THEREFORE, NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Factual narrative

On January 17, 1994, about 1017 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N2338T, registered to Jeff A. Kates, was ditched about 6 nautical miles east-southeast of the Palm Beach County Park Airport, Lantana, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.  The airplane was not recovered and is presumed to be destroyed.  The private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight originated about 5 minutes earlier from the Lantana Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida.

The pilot stated that before departure he performed a preflight of the airplane which included checking the fuel tanks for contaminants; none were found.  The fuel quantity was determined to be 20 gallons of fuel in each wing tank and the oil quantity was determined to be 8 quarts; full oil capacity is 8 quarts.  He also performed an engine run-up before departure and stated that each magneto drop was no more than 50 rpm with a differential of no more than 25 rpm.  The flight departed from runway 9, and climbed to about 1,000 feet while on an easterly heading.  When the flight was about 4 miles east of the departure airport, the engine lost power and began to backfire.  The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and during the descent, he verified that the mixture control was in the full rich position, the auxiliary fuel pump was turned on, and the fuel selector was repositioned.  He stated that he did not check the magnetos nor did he apply carburetor heat.  Just before ditching he opened the door and exited the airplane before it sank.  He was rescued by the Palm Beach Sheriff's Department about 45 minutes after the ditching.

The airplane has not been recovered; therefore, no determination could be made as to the reason for the reported loss of engine power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2338T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2338T-2014-09-19), registration cancelled 2014-09-19, S/N 28-7105207, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7105207
- Airframe hours: 6000
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kates, Jeff A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 29, 1993, 20 hours before
- Departed: LNA, WEST PALM BCH, FL
- Airport: LNA, Palm Beach County Park

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 454 total, 211 in this make and model, 436 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI, 9 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 19940117000449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940117000449A), Jan 17, 1994: Piper PA28180, West Palm Beach, FL, Destroyed. Lost power after departure. Ditched in ocean. Aircraft sank. Unable to determine cause of reported power loss.

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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