Aviation Crash Map

Piper PA-24-250 N4CD

3 September 1989 · Perry, Florida, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 3 September 1989 at about 23:02 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N4CD was involved in an accident near Perry, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 23:02
Classification
Accident
Location
Perry, Florida, United States
Coordinates
30.1696, -83.6096
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Registration
N4CD
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Dothan → Lakeland
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
MIA89LA242

People

1 person had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 1 1

Probable cause

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO WEAR AND RESTRICTED MOVEMENT OF THE CARBURETOR FLOAT, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA CONTRIBUTED TO OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE EN ROUTE AT 3500 FT, THE ENG LOST POWER & ATTEMPTS TO RESTART IT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PLT LANDED THE ACFT IN A PLOWED FIELD, BUT THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED. AN INTERNAL EXAM REVEALED THE FLOAT-TO-BOWL CLEARANCE WAS LESS THAN REQUIRED DUE TO FLOAT SHAFT BRACKET WEAR. EXCESSIVE FLOAT DROP (BETWEEN 1.58 & 1.8 INCHES) WAS REQUIRED TO START THE NEEDLE VALVE OPENING & ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE CHAMBER. ALSO, THE FLOAT CHAFFED THE WALL OF THE CARBURETOR BOWL PRIOR TO THE NEEDLE VALVE OPENING. NO OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Piper PA-24 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
20 May 1989 Piper PA-24-250
N5874P
Decatur, Texas, United States Frazier, David R. No injuries -
10 Jun 1989 Piper PA-24
N9213P
Naked Island, Alaska, United States
no coordinates
Jacob Kertz Minor injuries -
2 Sep 1989 Piper PA-24-250
N5210P
Hickory, North Carolina, United States - No injuries -
15 Jul 1989 Piper PA-24-260
N9183P
Llano, Texas, United States
no coordinates
Clyde E. Thomas, JR. No injuries -
2 Sep 1989 Piper PA-24-260
N666KH
Hanceville, Alabama, United States Haynes, Ernie H. Serious injuries -
28 Jul 1989 Piper PA-24-250
N7162P
True, West Virginia, United States
no coordinates
- Fatal 1

All 2,700 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
21 Mar 1989 Cessna 172H
N1480F
Melbourne, Florida, United States - Serious injuries -
23 Mar 1989 Piper AEROSTAR 600
N77BR
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
no coordinates
Top Flight Air Service Fatal 1
25 Mar 1989 Bellanca 7KCAB
N90985
Daytona Bch Shr, Florida, United States
no coordinates
Aerial Messages, Inc. Fatal 1
8 Apr 1989 Beechcraft C-45H
N711BF
Tampa, Florida, United States - Serious injuries -
16 Apr 1989 Coutz QUICKIE Q-2
N13QT
Lake City, Florida, United States Rowe, Reardon L. Fatal 1
25 Apr 1989 Cessna 150M
N3004V
Miramar, Florida, United States Tursair, Inc. Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States