Piper PA-24-250 N7961P

Summary

On 25 September 2007 at about 13:25 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N7961P, operated by Robert H. Meier, was involved in an accident near Wimauma, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 September 2007 at 13:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Wimauma, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Wimauma Air Park (FD77)

Coordinates

27.7119, -82.2828

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N7961P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert H. Meier

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wimauma → Wimauma

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA07LA157

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed while maneuvering for a precautionary landing following a reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/mechanic reported that the engine oil quantity checked satisfactory during his preflight inspection. There were no discrepancies reported during his engine run-up which lasted 6 minutes, and included cycling the propeller "numerous times." The oil pressure and engine rpm checked good during the takeoff roll for the intended flight once around the traffic pattern. After gear retraction when the flight was past the departure end of the runway, the pilot noticed the oil pressure was zero. He entered a left downwind for runway 09, reduced throttle, then elected to perform a precautionary landing on runway 27. He made a left descending turn and while on a close-in left base for runway 27 while flying at 200 feet, he lowered the landing gear. He then added power but the engine did not respond. The pilot reported that the airplane stalled, then impacted the ground and slid to a stop. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no oil leakage from the engine which contained the same quantity of oil reported by the pilot during his preflight inspection. Additionally, the oil pressure gauge was tested using air pressure and found to operate. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.