# NTSB SEA93LA191: Piper PA-30, N7148Y, Bryce Canyon, UT, September 5, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 1993, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Bryce Canyon, UT - Location: 37.7169° N, 112.1331° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from BRYCE CANYON (BCE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7169&lon=-112.1331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41760 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41760/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA191 ## Probable cause LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE FORCED LANDING WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND ROUGH TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - 1 engine - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - aircraft performance,engine out capability - inadequate - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT INITIATED A LEFT 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT; HOWEVER, HE REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO REACH THE RUNWAY, SO HE OPTED TO LAND ON ROUGH TERRAIN. AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS RETRIEVED, THE ENGINE WAS PREPARED FOR A TEST RUN. IT STARTED AND WAS RUN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT VARYING POWER SETTINGS WITH NO EVIDENCE FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 8950 FEET. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 1993, at 0730 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N7148Y, collided with the terrain one mile north of the Bryce Canyon Airport, Bryce Canyon, Utah, while maneuvering to return for an emergency landing at the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured. In a written statement, the pilot reported that indications were normal for the start, taxi, run-up, and takeoff. After the airplane climbed to an altitude of approximately 300 feet above ground level, the right engine lost power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot made a left, 180 degree turn back toward the airport, however, the airplane was unable to reach the runway, and the pilot landed the airplane on rough desert terrain. After the airplane was retrieved, the right engine was placed on a test stand and prepared for a test run. The engine started and ran at varying power settings for approximately ten minutes. No evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7148Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7148Y-2000-04-19), registration cancelled 2000-04-19, S/N 30-165 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-165 - Airframe hours: 5461 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ghaemmaghami, Kamran - Registered owner: Ghaemmaghami, Kamran & Teri - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 11, 1992, 105 hours before - Departed: BCE - Destination: U07, BULLFROG, UT - Airport: BCE, Bryce Canyon, runway 3, 7,400 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,499 total, 198 in this make and model, 2,313 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CDC, 45 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 19930905039899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930905039899A), Sep 5, 1993: Piper PA30, Bryce Canyon, UT, Substantial damage. Reported power loss right engine on climbout. Settled in rough terrain. No engine defects. Density altlitude factor 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.