Piper PA-23-160 N4410P

Summary

On 18 May 1998 at about 23:20 local time, a Piper PA-23-160 registered N4410P was involved in an accident near Guthrie, Oklahoma, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 May 1998 at 23:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Guthrie, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Guthrie Municipal (GOK)

Coordinates

35.8405, -97.4193

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-160

Registration

N4410P

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98FA229

2 people died.

The designated pilot examiner's decision to execute a single engine go-around which exceeded the airplane's engine out climb capability in the gear down configuration. Factors were the arcing of an electrical wire that grounded the engine starter and the high density altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a multi-engine certification check flight, the left engine was shut down and feathered. The designated pilot examiner then had the applicant restart the engine. The restart was unsuccessful, and the examiner took control of the aircraft, returning to the originating airport. The applicant performed the manual gear extension procedures, but the landing gear position could not be verified, and the gear was not down and locked on final approach. The examiner executed a go-around; however, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane impacted trees, and terrain while descending during the go-around. A post impact fire destroyed the aircraft. The landing gar was found in the retracted position, and the left propeller was found in the retracted position, and the left propeller was found feathered. Metallurgical examination found areas of electrical arcing in the part of the starter cable passing through the wing root. When the left engine starter was energized using an exemplary cable, the starter rotated the engine crankshaft. Density altitude was calculated at 3,100 feet. The aircraft manufacturer reported ad single-engine aircraft climb capability of -7 feet per minute with the landing gear extended.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.