Piper PA-28-151 N1558X

Summary

On 7 January 2004 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-151 registered N1558X, operated by Danbury Flight School, was involved in an accident near Danbury, Connecticut, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 January 2004 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Danbury, Connecticut, United States

Nearest airport

Danbury Municipal Airport (DXR)

Coordinates

41.3669, -73.4850

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-151

Registration

N1558X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Danbury Flight School

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Danbury → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04FA056

1 person was seriously injured.

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff climb, as the airplane approached the departure end of the runway, the pilot heard a "pop," the airplane began to shudder, and he felt a "decrease in aircraft performance." The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to evaluate the problem, and then at 400 feet, he initiated a turn back to the airport. During the turn, the airplane "stalled," impacted a tree, and a post-crash fire ensued. During the takeoff climb, witnesses observed a thin "puff" of smoke trailing from the airplane's exhaust, prior to the pilot initiating the turn back to the runway. On-scene examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any mechanical deficiencies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.