- Date
- June 9, 1991, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- East Haddam, CT
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2876ZPiper PA-28-181
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910609020739A
- Case key
- 36795
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 non-mechanical loss of engine power due to the failure of the pilot to use the auxiliary fuel boost pump during takeoff.
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
As N2867Z lifted off during takeoff, the engine began to sputter. Witnesses heard the engine running intermittently and roughly. It disappeared behind trees and was found in 10 feet of water in a pond off the end of the runway. The airplane door was damaged during collision with the water, preventing the occupants from escaping. The airplane was recovered, and after drying out, the engine was started and ran normally. The fuel system electric fuel pump was found in the off position. The pilot's operating handbook requires that the electric fuel pump be on during takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2876Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-790516
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Dietrich J. Ginzel
- Registered owner
- Dietrich J. Ginzel
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- CDW · Caldwell, NJ
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
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,007 total · 900 in this make and model · 950 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Observed at
- HNV, 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.
Other investigations on N2876Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.