# NTSB MIA95LA051: Piper PA-28-161, N4300S, Lakeland, FL, December 31, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 31, 1994, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Lakeland, FL
- Location: 28.0395° N, 81.9498° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lakeland, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0395&lon=-81.9498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37717
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37717/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA051

## Probable cause

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE NO.1 VALVE SPRING THAT JAMMED THE INTAKE VALVE OPEN RESULTING IN PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - jammed (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - light condition - dark night
  - object - wire,transmission

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT TO AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. DURING APPROACH THE AIRPLANE HIT WIRES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE NO.1 CYLINDER OUTER INTAKE VALVE SPRING THAT JAMMED THE INNER SPRING RESULTING IN THE VALVE BEING JAMMED OPEN.

## Factual narrative

On December 31, 1994, about 1820 eastern standard time, N4300S, a Piper PA-28-161, registered to Air Orlando Sales Inc., crashed in Lakeland, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and one passenger received no injuries. The flight originated from the Lakeland Airport about 15 minutes earlier.

The pilot noted a loss of engine power and initiated a forced landing to the median of an interstate highway. The airplane struck wires on approach. Examination by the FAA revealed the No. 1 cylinder outer intake valve spring failed.  Further examination of the spring revealed failure signatures consistent with fatigue.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4300S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4300S), registered now, S/N 28-8316064 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 8316064
- Airframe hours: 4068
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Air Orlando Sales Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 1993, 23 hours before
- Destination: ORL, ORLANDO, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 894 total, 114 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAL, 11 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 19941231043429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941231043429A), Dec 31, 1994: Piper PA28161, Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed hiway median. NR1 cylinder valve intake spring failed due fatigue.

## Other investigations on N4300S (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 MIA99LA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA264), Sep 23, 1999: Piper PA-28-161 (N4300S), Covington, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's decision to take off from unsuitable terrain, which resulted in a collision with trees.

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.