Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Abbeville, Louisiana 70510
Thursday, August 14, 2008 20:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The single-engine airplane experienced a total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot attempted to restart the engine to no avail. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear, both wings, and engine firewall during the forced landing. The pilot who had purchased the airplane on the morning of the accident, the sole passenger, and the flight instructor were able to exit the airplane unassisted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane. The fuel selector was found in the "Right Tank" position; however, due to impact damage, verification of the right tank fuel quantity was not possible. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/2008
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2015
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Abbeville
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70510
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 295832N
Event Location Longitude 0920502W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID KARA
Elevation of weather observation facility 15
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
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) 29.9
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24483
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center FTW
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2008 4:32PM
User who most recently changed record gamw
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8323R
NTSB Number DFW08CA207
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-22194
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 2 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4348
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Bergeron, Ty J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cottonport
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71327
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Bergeron, Ty J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Cottonport
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 71327
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code KARA
Departure City New Iberia
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0R3
Destination City Abbeville
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2008 3:15PM
User who most recently changed record gamw
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --