# NTSB MKC90LA100: Piper PA-28-151, N3986X, St. Louis, MO, May 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 2, 1990, 11:48 local (16:48 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Coordinates: 38.649097, -90.579788 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6491&lon=-90.5798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34974/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA100

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT NOT ATTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

## 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
  - ignition system,spark plug - fouled (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Overrun, landing - roll
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PLT HAD JUST DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT ON RUNWAY 8L, AND SHORTLY AFTER DEVELOPED ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH ROUGHNESS AND BACKFIRING. THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND LAND ON 26R. A DOWNWIND LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED THAT RESULTED IN AN OVERRAN AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BEEN SERVICED DUE TO ROUGHNESS, AND POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLUGS TO BE FOULED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3986X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3986X), registered now, S/N 28-7515439 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7515439
- Airframe hours: 1995
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: D & A Aviation
- Registered owner: Braddock, Mark P.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 4, 1990, 25 hours before
- Departed: SUS
- Airport: SUS, Spirit Of St. Louis, runway 26, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,164 total, 9 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SUS, 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 19900502013179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900502013179A), May 2, 1990: Piper PA28151, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. Rough engine on climbout. Made forced landing on downwind runway and overran runway. Had fouled spark plugs.

## Other investigations on N3986X (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 DEN80DTE03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80DTE03), Oct 17, 1979: Piper PA-28 (N3986X), Byers, CO, 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.