# NTSB WPR23LA249: Piper PA-28-140, N4586R, Meeks Bay, CA, July 1, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 1, 2023, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Meeks Bay, CA - Coordinates: 39.01401, -120.10984 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0140&lon=-120.1098&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192519 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192519/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA249 ## Probable cause A 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. - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight with one passenger on board the single-engine airplane. The pilot reported that, while approaching the Lake Tahoe area, he decided to perform a flight around the lake before continuing to his destination. While adding power to level off, he heard and felt a pop in the throttle handle and the rpm decreased. Subsequently, the throttle was not controlling the engine power and the rpm decreased to near idle. The pilot added full rich mixture and switched fuel tanks. Despite his actions the engine would not increase in power. The pilot made a radio call and pitched for best glide over the lake. The airplane nosed over after contacting the water; the pilot and passenger egressed and were soon rescued by nearby boaters. The search efforts did not locate the airplane and the wreckage was not recovered; therefore, the airframe and engine could not be examined, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 2023, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N4586R, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Lake Tahoe, California. The pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal cross-country flight. The pilot reported that the airplane was just purchased in Southern California and that he and his passenger were relocating it to Carson City Airport (CXP), Carson City, Nevada. They departed on the accident flight from Modesto City-County Airport-Harry Sham Field (MOD), Modesto, California, and followed the interstate highway while approaching the west side of Lake Tahoe. After reaching the Lake Tahoe area, the pilot decided to perform a flight around the lake before continuing to his destination, which was on the east side of the lake. While adding power to level off at 9,500 ft, he heard and felt a pop in the throttle handle and the rpm decreased to 1,800. Subsequently, the throttle was not controlling the engine power and the rpm decreased to near idle. The pilot added full rich mixture and switched fuel tanks. Despite his actions the engine would not increase in power. The pilot made a radio call and pitched for best glide over the lake. The airplane nosed over after contacting the water; the pilot and passenger egressed and were soon rescued by nearby boaters. A security video captured the airplane during its descent over the water. The airplane contacted the water and flipped over in a big splash. Soon after, nearby boats were seen responding. The search efforts did not locate the airplane and the wreckage was not recovered. Review of the airplane's maintenance logbooks revealed that the last annual inspection was completed on April 9, 2022. At that time the airplane had a total time of 2,976 hours. The investigation was unable to determine how much time was put on the airplane since the last inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4586R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4586R), registered now, S/N 28-21330, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-21330 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 2976 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walter Guasch - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 2023 - Departed: MOD, Modesto, CA - Destination: CXP, Carson City, NV - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 300 total, 7 in this make and model, 167 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KTVL, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KTVL 011653Z AUTO 02006KT 10SM CLR 22/09 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP203 T02170089= ## 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 20230701012969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230701012969A), Jul 1, 2023: Piper PA-28-140, Rubicon Bay, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from modesto, CA. Continued flight around lake tahoe counterclockwise when the pilot heard and felt a pop leveling off from descent in the… ## Other investigations on N4586R (2) 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. - [NTSB MIA67F0053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67F0053), Jun 4, 1966: Piper PA-28 (N4586R), Charleston, SC, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA67F0004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67F0004-201494), May 13, 1966: Piper PA-28 (N4586R), Ridgeland, SC, substantial damage 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.