Piper PA-28-161 N8120C

Summary

On 25 May 1990 at about 19:20 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N8120C, operated by Paul Zarroli, JR., was involved in an accident near Fraconia, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 May 1990 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Fraconia, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.1708, -76.8707

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N8120C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Paul Zarroli, JR.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Quakertown → Blue Bell

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC90LA111

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO FLARE FOR LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A POWER LOSS DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION, THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO CONDUCT AN ADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT AND DEPARTING WITH THE OIL DIP STICK LOOSE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ENGINE LOST POWER APPROX 5 MIN AFTER T.O. THE PILOT REPORTED HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AND LANDED HARD. POST CRASH EXAMINATION SHOWED NO OIL IN THE ENGINE CASE AND THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO OIL EXHAUSTION. ONE ENGINE OIL COOLER LINE WAS FOUND TO BE OOZING OIL, HOWEVER, NO OIL LINE FRACTURES WERE REPORTED. THE PILOT WAS REPORTED TO HAVE IMMEDIATELY OPENED UP THE ENGINE COWLING AND EXAMINED THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE FAA REPORTED THE OIL DIP STICK IN PLACE, HOWEVER, THE PAINT ABOVE IT WAS CHIPPED AND THE METAL SHINY. IN ADDITION, THEY REPORTED A 'V' PATTERN OF OIL SPRAYED ON THE ENGINE COWLING ABOVE THE OIL DIP STICK, WHICH RAN TO THE BACK OF THE ENGINE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.