Piper PA30 N7178Y

Summary

On 16 August 1999 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA30 registered N7178Y, operated by Adventure Aero, LLC., was involved in an accident near Holdenville, Oklahoma, 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

16 August 1999 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Holdenville, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Holdenville (F99)

Coordinates

35.0799, -96.3902

Aircraft

Piper PA30

Registration

N7178Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Adventure Aero, LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Norman

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99FA222

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff initial climb. Factors were the loss of right engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's lack of total experience in the make and model of aircraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to a witness, the twin-engine airplane's takeoff appeared to be 'normal' except for the loud noise, which he believed was coming from the right engine. The noise 'sounded like something rubbing against a metal fan.' The witness stated that 'after the plane was in the air, it started to turn to the left like it was going to gain altitude [and] then suddenly turned right, then it started to lose altitude.' He then lost sight of the airplane as it went behind some trees. Another witness described hearing the airplane overhead 'backfiring, popping.' The witness watched the aircraft for about 1/2 mile until it disappeared behind some trees. The witness continued to hear the engine 'pop' about 20 more times before hearing a 'large backfire, 'pop'' and 10-15 seconds later he 'heard the engines race in rpm (motor revved-up high).' He then heard the airplane impact the ground. According to an insurance application filled out nine months before the accident, the commercial pilot had a total of 507 flight hours, of which 85.6 hours were in multi-engine airplanes. Other than one flight with the operator of the airplane earlier in the day of the accident, the pilot did not have any previous experience in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Flight control continuity was established. The right propeller was found in what appeared to be the feather position. An examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.