Sarasota/Bradenton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sarasota, Florida 34242
Sunday, March 30, 1997 13:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot noticed he was low on final approach and added power. When he advanced the throttle he said 'there was no power.' He observed that the engine RPM was 'low.' He then attempted to 'operate the throttle,' switched fuel tanks, and still had no power. The pilot could not maintain altitude, so elected to land short of the runway on grass. As the airplane touched down in the grass, the main landing gear caught a ditch, continued on the grass for about 100 yards, veered left, and the wing struck a fence post. According to the FAA inspector's statement; '...the first time the pilot stated he turned on the boost pump, reduced throttle and turned base on final. [The] pilot realized [the] approach would be short. He applied throttle with no engine response.' The second time the pilot was asked to recount the events, the pilot added, 'I applied carb heat.' Fuel was found in both tanks, the fuel selector was selected to the 'Right' tank, and fuel was found in the gascolator. The engine was test run and no discrepancies were found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SARASOTA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34242
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SARASOTA/BRADENTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SRQ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 24
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SRQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 24
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 239
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 30 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:10PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N109LD
NTSB Number MIA97LA104
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-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-79990292
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 17 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 150
Airframe Hours 5360
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EAGLE AIR FORCE INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1102 68TH ST WEST
Aircraft Owner City BRADENTON
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34209
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code SPG
Departure City ST PETERSBURG
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 32
Runway Length 7003
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --