Hidden Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Denton, Texas 76205
Wednesday, January 22, 1992 16:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING INITIAL CLIMB THE ENGINE LOST POWER TO BETWEEN 1500 RPM AND 1800 RPM. SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBERS TWO AND FOUR TOP SPARK PLUGS SHOWED LEAD FOULING. THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG LEAD WAS LOOSE ON THE NUMBER THREE BOTTOM PLUG. THE RIGHT EXHAUST PIPE WAS CORRODED AND DETERIORATED AND SHOWED EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE IN THE AREA OF CONNECTION TO THE MUFFLER. BURNT AREAS ON THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER FINS AROUND THE EXHAUST GASKET SHOWED EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER/PILOT, THE AIRPLANE LAST RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION THREE MONTHS AND 73 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FOULED SPARK PLUGS, LOOSE SPARK PLUG IGNITION LEAD, EXHAUST LEAK, AND CYLINDER LEAK. FACTORS WERE AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION, POOR MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION BY THE PILOT WITH KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/22/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1645
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City DENTON
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76205
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HIDDEN VALLEY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5TXO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 611
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 329
Weather Observation Facility ID FTW
Elevation of weather observation facility 710
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 900
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 101
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45981
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N107EH
NTSB Number FTW92LA059
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7525057
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Oct 30 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours 2860
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS A. TWEEDDALE
Aircraft Owner Street Address #43 HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD
Aircraft Owner City DENTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76205
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS A. TWEEDDALE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address #43 HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD
Operator City DENTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76205
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --