Taunton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Taunton, Massachusetts 02780
Friday, February 4, 1994 12:33 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB, ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE STUDENT PILOT, ON A SOLO FLIGHT, STATED THAT THE TACHOMETER INDICATED ZERO, AND HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE STATED THAT HE TRIED TO LAND ON A NARROW STREET BUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TRANSMISSION WIRE AND SPUN AROUND 170 DEGREES, OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, BEFORE IT FELL TO THE GROUND. AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT HE AUTHORIZED THE REMOVAL OF THE AIRPLANE FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. HOWEVER, THE OWNER, WITHOUT THE FAA BEING PRESENT TO SUPERVISE THE ENGINE EXAMINATION, STATED THAT HE SUCCESSFULLY RAN THE ENGINE. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN TO ENABLE THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/4/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1233
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City TAUNTON
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02780
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TAUNTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TAN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 300
Airport Elevation 43
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1225 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID BDR
Elevation of weather observation facility 43
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1176
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 4 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1410
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:39AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1877Q
NTSB Number BFO94LA037
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7716088
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 17 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 8393
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KING SERVICES OF AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address TAUNTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City TAUNTON
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02718
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KING SERVICES OF AVIATION INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address TAUNTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Operator City TAUNTON
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 02718
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1217
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TAN
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 3496
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --