Piper PA-28-140 N2487T

Summary

On 5 May 1993 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N2487T was involved in an accident near Paoli, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 May 1993 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Paoli, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Paoli Muni. (I42)

Coordinates

38.5504, -86.4601

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N2487T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Salem

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI93FA161

1 person died.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS WERE THE INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE TRAINING OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, UNQUALIFIED MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE CONTAMINATED FUEL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT OPERATING HIS OWN AIRPLANE WAS EN ROUTE TO TAKE A DUAL FLYING LESSON WHEN HE EXPEREIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. INITIALLY HE SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER AND HE INITIATED A CLIMB ABOUT THE TIME A SECOND POWER LOSS WAS SUFFERED. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED CONTROLLED FLIGHT AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION FOUND A CONTAMINATED FUEL SYSTEM. THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER OBSERVED THE STUDENT DRAINING SUMPS. A NON-RATED MECHANIC WHO WORKED ON THE AIRPLANE TWICE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE, DID NOT DRAIN THE FUEL SUMPS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.