Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flamingo, Florida 33034
Saturday, May 25, 1991 15:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLT, THE ENG RPM DROPPED FROM 2,400 TO 1,900. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, HE LANDED THE ACFT IN A FIELD BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LT WING WAS SEVERED AFTER IMPACT WITH A TREE. THE ACFT ROLLED INVERTED & CAME TO REST. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE NO. 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE FAILED. DUR TO DAMAGE TO THE FRACTURE SURFACE, NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. REVIEW OF THE ENG LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT IN OCTOBER 1979, THE EGN WAS OVERHAULED WHICH INCLUDED IN PART, REPLACEMENT OF THE EXHAUST VALVES. SINCE THAT TIME THE ENG HAD ACCUMULATED APRX 1,400 HRS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE NO. 3 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FLAMINGO
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33034
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 471
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 25 1991 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1615
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44023
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N56118
NTSB Number MIA91LA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
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
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
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 May 3 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 3775
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES R. STONE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7273 DANBURY WAY
Aircraft Owner City CLEARWATER
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34624
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 PIE
Departure City ST. PETERSBURG
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1225
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MTH
Destination City MARATHON
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --