Akron/Canton International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Akron, Ohio 44720
Saturday, July 12, 2003 11:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to take off, the pilot conducted a pre-flight inspection and engine run-up, and found "nothing unusual." On the take off roll, he rotated at 80 mph. As the airplane began to climb, the pilot said the left engine rpm dropped to 1,500 RPM, and the airplane veered left. He was unable to maintain altitude or directional control, and contacted the ground with the left wing first, followed by the nose. A witness stated that when the airplane was 15-20 feet above the ground, he heard a loud popping noise. The engines revved up and it looked like the airplane was going to land, but continued to climb with louder than normal engine revs. The engines were examined under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and no mechanical deficiencies were noted. The airplane was released to the owner, who later sold it to an airplane salvage company. According to a representative of the salvage company, during a teardown of the left engine, the main bearing was found partially seated on the journal. It appeared blue in color. At the time of the accident, the engine had accrued a total of 1,607 hours since field overhaul.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain minimum control single engine airspeed (Vmc) during a loss of power on one engine, which resulted in a loss of control in flight an in-flight collision with terrain. A factor was a shifted main journal, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/12/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Akron
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44720
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405458N
Event Location Longitude 0812632W
Event Location Airport Akron/Canton International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CAK
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 1200
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1125 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CAK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1200
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16097
NTSB Notification Source GLOC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2004 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Cleveland FAA/FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N825SA
NTSB Number IAD03LA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-23-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 23-1167
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 6500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Stuart R. Clink
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1363 Snowberry Lane
Aircraft Owner City Medina
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44256
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 CAK
Departure City Akron-Canton Re
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3G3
Destination City Wadsworth Munic
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 22 2004 12:44PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 7600
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --