# NTSB NYC03LA163: Piper PA-28-181, N8199D, Sandusky, OH, July 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2003, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Sandusky, OH - Coordinates: 41.433334, -82.652221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4333&lon=-82.6522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 4 serious - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 57515 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57515/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA163 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the engine mixture control during the go-around, which resulted in a loss of power, and in-flight collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, go-around (vfr) - mixture - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane was on final approach to a 3,559-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, asphalt runway, when the pilot observed a twin-engine airplane on a taxiway near the runway. The pilot was not certain if the airplane was going to utilize the runway, and elected to go-around. The pilot pushed the throttle full-forward and kept his right hand on the power quadrant. During the climb out, the engine began to sputter and lose power. The pilot looked down at the power quadrant and noticed that the engine mixture control was pulled back. He pushed mixture control in and lowered the airplane's nose to avoid a stall; however, the airplane struck trees about 1/2 mile beyond the departure end of the runway. Examination of the engine and associated controls did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2003, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8199D, was substantially damaged during a go-around at the Griffing-Sandusky Airport (SKY), Sandusky, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), Fort Wayne, Indiana. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was on approach to runway 27, a 3,559-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that while turning onto the final approach path, he observed a twin-engine airplane on a taxiway near the runway. The pilot was not certain if the airplane was going to utilize the runway, and elected to go-around. The pilot pushed the throttle full-forward and kept his right hand on the power quadrant. The airplane was configured with two notches of flaps during the approach, and the pilot retracted one notch of flaps. The pilot looked over his left shoulder and observed the twin-engine airplane passing under his airplane's left wing, which was approximately 300 feet above the ground, and climbing. The engine then began to "stumble," and he felt the yoke in his left hand becoming very heavy. He looked down at the power quadrant and noticed that the engine mixture control was pulled back. The pilot pushed mixture control in and lowered the airplane's nose to avoid a stall; however, the airplane struck trees about 1/2 mile beyond the departure end of the runway. The wreckage was moved to a hangar at SKY, where it was examined under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The examination did not revealed any pre-impact malfunctions of the engine and associated controls. The engine was rotated by hand and thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders. All spark plugs were removed. Their electrodes were intact and light gray in color. The right magneto generated a spark through all four of its leads when rotated. The left magneto sustained impact damage and could not be tested. The engine driven fuel pump and carburetor were disassembled with no discrepancies noted. The pilot reported 338 hours of total flight experience, which included 67 hours in the same make and model airplane as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8199D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8199D-2003-10-14), registration cancelled 2003-10-14, S/N 28-8290115, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8290115 - Airframe hours: 8461 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Back Forty Flying Club Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 9, 2003, 152 hours before - Departed: FWA, FORT WAYNE, IN - Destination: SKY, Sandusky, OH - Airport: SKY, Griffing Sandusky, runway 27, 3,559 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 15, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 338 total, 67 in this make and model, 285 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: LPR, 22 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 20030720020019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030720020019A), Jul 20, 2003: Piper PA28181, Sandusky, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) Upon initiating a go around the aircraft lost power and came to rest in a tree-farmers field, the aircraft came to rest upright. 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.