- Date
- May 25, 1990, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place
- Fraconia, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8120CPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900525017689A
- Case key
- 36645
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain sufficient airspeed to flare for landing. Factors related to the accident were: a power loss due to oil exhaustion, the failure of the pilot to conduct an adequate pre-flight and departing with the oil dip stick loose.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The engine lost power approx 5 min after t.o. the pilot reported he executed a forced landing and landed hard. Post crash examination showed no oil in the engine case and the cause of the engine failure was attributed to oil exhaustion. One engine oil cooler line was found to be oozing oil, however, no oil line fractures were reported. The pilot was reported to have immediately opened up the engine cowling and examined the engine after the accident. The FAA reported the oil dip stick in place, however, the paint above it was chipped and the metal shiny. In addition, they reported a 'v' pattern of oil sprayed on the engine cowling above the oil dip stick, which ran to the back of the engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8120C
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 8016135
- Airframe hours
- 1,400
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Paul Zarroli, Jr.
- Registered owner
- Remo Dilello
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 25, 1989 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- UKT · Quakertown, PA
- Destination
- N67 · Blue Bell, PA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 30
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 197 total · 23 in this make and model · 170 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 315° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 50 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.