Piper PA-28R-180 N3726T

Summary

On 6 September 1995 at about 16:47 local time, a Piper PA-28R-180 registered N3726T was involved in an accident near Lago Vista, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 1995 at 16:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Lago Vista, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Rusty Allen Airport (5R3)

Coordinates

30.4505, -97.9694

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-180

Registration

N3726T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bridgeport → Austin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA370

3 people had minor injuries.

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST OIL PRESSURE AND DEVELOPED A VIBRATION WHILE ON AN INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND TURNED THE AIRPLANE TO THE NEAREST AVAILABLE AIRPORT AND NOTIFIED APPROACH CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. ATC ISSUED THE AIRPLANE A HEADING AS WELL AS THE DISTANCE TO THE AIRPORT. DUE TO THE LOW ALTITUDE AND TREES SURROUNDING THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ALIGN THE AIRPLANE WITH EITHER RUNWAY AT THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO LAND PERPENDICULAR TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN NORTH OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTINUED DOWNSLOPE, WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND CAME TO REST IN A SANDY AREA ADJACENT TO THE HANGARS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE REVEALED THAT THE CONNECTING RODS FOR THE NUMBER 1 AND 2 CYLINDERS HAD FAILED FOR UNDETERMINED REASON.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.