# NTSB WPR19LA267: Piper PA28, N8353T, Modesto, CA, September 28, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 27, 2019, 19:45 local (Sep 28, 2019, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Modesto, CA
- Coordinates: 37.625831, -120.954444 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6258&lon=-120.9544&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100348
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA267
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100348/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100348
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA267

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-236, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102815), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight when, about 20 minutes from the destination airport, the engine lost partial power. The pilot switched fuel tanks, turned on the fuel pump and carburetor heat, and reduced engine power. The engine subsequently lost total power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a highway. During landing, the right wing impacted a light pole and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. A postimpact fire ensued and consumed a majority of the airplane. Both fuel tanks were breached and thermally damaged. The fuel selector was not located. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Compression was obtained on each cylinder when the engine was rotated by hand at the crankshaft. The carburetor was intact and free of debris. The electric fuel pump was operational. The single-drive magneto was impact damaged, but produced spark at each of the 12 leads. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On September 27, 2019, about 1945 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-236 airplane, N8353T, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Modesto, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed about 1850 and was about 20 minutes from his destination at 5,500 ft mean sea level when he experienced a momentary partial loss of engine power. He switched fuel tanks, turned on the fuel pump and carburetor heat, and reduced engine power. The engine subsequently lost total power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a highway. During landing, the right wing impacted a light pole and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. A postimpact fire ensued and consumed a majority of the airplane. Both fuel tanks were breached and thermally damaged. The fuel selector was not located. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Compression was obtained on each cylinder when the engine was rotated by hand at the crankshaft. The carburetor was intact and free of debris. The electric fuel pump was operational. The single-drive magneto was impact damaged, but produced spark at each of the 12 leads.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8353T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8353T-2020-07-10), registration cancelled 2020-07-10, S/N 28-8111055, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (236)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-236](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236) (registry code 7102815) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8111055
- Year built: 1981
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: TRK, Truckee, CA
- Destination: E16, San Martin, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 925 total, 96 in this make and model, 896 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observed at: KMOD

## 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 20190927023849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190927023849A), Sep 27, 2019: Piper PA-28-236, Modesto, CA, Destroyed. On September 27, 2019, at 1948 pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-236 airplane, N8353T, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a complete loss of…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100348. 5.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13348209&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA267%20Pilot%20Report%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13185501&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20CONVERSATION%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Engine exam (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13184650&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=engine%20exam-Rel.pdf
- Magneto testing (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13185511&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N8353T%20dualmag%20exam-Rel.pdf
- Engine logbook (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13185843&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=engine%20logbook%20n8353t_2019_10_24_16_32_00_119_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Propeller logbook (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13185521&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=propeller%20logbook%20n8353t_2019_10_24_16_33_36_239_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 594 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13253917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20WPR19LA267_Redacted-Rel.pdf

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.

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