Piper PA28 N624FL

Summary

On 28 July 2018 at about 17:25 local time, a Piper PA28 registered N624FL was involved in an accident near Columbia, Illinois, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 July 2018 at 17:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Sackman Field (H49)

Coordinates

38.4617, -90.2294

Aircraft

Piper PA28

Registration

N624FL

Category

Airplane

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Columbia → Columbia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18LA299

3 people were seriously injured.

The airplane's inability to climb due to reduced engine power as a result of insufficient compression in all cylinders and fouled spark plugs in the No. 2 cylinder while operating near its maximum gross weight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the pilot's departure for the local flight, witnesses observed the airplane climbing at a shallower attitude than normal. The airplane appeared to level off and then contacted transmission lines about 1/2 mile from the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident examination of the engine found fouled sparkplugs in cylinder No. 2 and a compression check of all the cylinders revealed that they were all below 60 psi. Cylinder No. 2 was at 18 psi, and the other three cylinders were about 50 psi. An engine manufacturer's service letter stated if the pressure reading is below 60 psi, removal and overhaul of the cylinders should be considered. A weight and balance calculation revealed that the airplane was operating near its maximum gross weight. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the partial loss of engine power due to low compression in all of the cylinders and fouled sparkplugs in the No. 2 cylinder. The loading of the airplane near its maximum gross weight combined with a reduction in available engine power likely did not allow for the airplane to climb normally.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.