Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Saturday, September 28, 1991 1:14 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED HE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE MAGNETO DROP ON RUN UP AND HE LEANED THE MIXTURE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. HE NEVER STATED HE PLACED THE MIXTURE CONTROL TO FULL RICH PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE ENGINE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AFTER TAKEOFF AND EVENTUALLY QUIT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND STRUCK A TREE AND A BUILDING DURING LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL IN THAT HE FAILED TO PLACE IT IN FULL RICH CONDITION PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/28/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 114
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WEST PALM BEACH
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33401
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 125 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 91
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2138
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45259
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5838U
NTSB Number MIA91FA227
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 28-2669
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRACE, FRANKLIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1913 2 ST., APT. #2
Aircraft Owner City POMPANO BEACH
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33060
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STEVEN MCCAUGHEY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4081 NE 15 TERR.
Operator City FORT LAUDERDALE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33334
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 113
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FXE
Destination City FORT LAUDERDALE
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --