Thomas P Stafford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Thomas, Oklahoma 73669
Friday, May 9, 2008 17:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial pilot had just departed for an aerial application flight when shortly after takeoff the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot reported that the engine seemed to go to idle, and that he was unable to restore power. During the forced landing, the airplane was substantially damaged. A postaccident inspection of the engine revealed that the bolt holding the throttle linkage to the fuel servo was missing. Because of the missing bolt, the throttle linkage became disconnected, and the pilot was unable to restore engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The disconnected throttle linkage resulting in the loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb. A factor contributing to the accident was the muddy forced landing site.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Thomas
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 73669
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 353241N
Event Location Longitude 0984006W
Event Location Airport THOMAS P STAFFORD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID F91
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1710 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID KCLK
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.83
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23702
NTSB Notification Source ROC
NTSB Notification Date May 9 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Oklahoma City

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2368Y
NTSB Number DFW08CA136
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-36
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 36-8160020
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6442
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James R Goff
Aircraft Owner Street Address 900 15th Street NW
Aircraft Owner City Childress
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79201
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name James R. Goff
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 900 15th Street NW
Operator City Childress
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 79201
Operator Code TTTG
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City WEATHERFORD
Departure State OK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Thomas
Destination State OK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2008 10:20AM
User who most recently changed record GAMW
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --