Raleigh-Durham Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morrisville, North Carolina 27560
Tuesady, November 14, 1989 5:55 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT HAD INTERCEPTED THE GLIDE SLOPE, WITH THE LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS EXTENDED, WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ESTABLISHED AN 85 KNOT EMERGENCY GLIDE ON THE LOCALIZER COURSE. ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES, FELL TO THE GROUND AND BURNED. THE PILOT MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE BURNING AIRPLANE WITH MINOR INJURIES. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT MOVING THE FUEL MIXTURE LEVER TO THE RICH POSITION. NORMAL AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES INSTRUCT THE PILOT TO RETURN THE MIXTURE LEVER TO THE RICH POSITION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THE DARK NIGHT AND INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/14/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 555
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MORRISVILLE
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27560
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RALEIGH-DURHAM
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RDU
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 437
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 550 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID RDU
Elevation of weather observation facility 437
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2035
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 14 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41268
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:11PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4945F
NTSB Number ATL90LA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32R-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32R-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-7680491
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 5 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 6081
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JULIA W. TAYLOR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4019 TROTTER RIDGE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City DURHAM
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27707
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 545
Operator City MORRISVILLE
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27560
Operator Code FDWA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CLT
Departure City CHARLOTTE
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 445
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RDU
Destination City RALIEGH
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 23R
Runway Length 10000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --