Piper PA32 N1495J

Summary

On 8 July 2016 at about 22:10 local time, a Piper PA32 registered N1495J, operated by Ledfordopolis II LLC, was involved in an accident near Windermere, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 July 2016 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Windermere, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.5025, -81.5264

Aircraft

Piper PA32

Registration

N1495J

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Ledfordopolis II LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Orlando → Venice

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA250

2 people were seriously injured.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting his third flight of the day when, during climb about 10 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost partial power, regained power, then lost all power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and ditched the airplane in a lake. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The left main fuel tank was breached and absent of fuel. The left wingtip fuel tank was separated from the wing and was not recovered. However, adequate fuel remained in the airplane. Recovery personnel noted that the right wingtip fuel tank contained water and its drain was found locked in the open position, whereas the right main fuel tank remained intact and contained about 25 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector was found positioned between the right main fuel tank and the right wingtip fuel tank. The pilot reported that he flew a previous flight with the fuel selector positioned to the right wingtip fuel tank but switched it to the left wingtip fuel tank before departing on the accident flight. The investigation could not determine if the drain for the right wingtip fuel tank was locked open before or during impact, nor could it determine the position of the fuel selector when engine power was lost.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.