ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 26314
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| Date: | Monday 16 June 2003 |
| Time: | 13:02 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N577FS |
| MSN: | 31P-7730008 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1977 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4412 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming TIGO-541-E1A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Augusta Regional Airport, Bush Field, Augusta, Georgia -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Augusta, GA (KAGS) |
| Belmont, MS (K01M) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A witness at the airport stated the airplane appeared to use half of the 8,000-foot runway on takeoff roll, and the climb out appeared "very flat." During climbout, the pilot reported to the tower controller the airplane "lost an engine," and he announced intentions to return to the runway. The controller stated he noticed the airplane continued straight out and appeared to be losing altitude. Witnesses north of the airport observed the airplane flying low and described its engine noises as "erratic," "skipping," "sputtering," and "some sort of backfire." One witness stated the airplane was moving slowly to the north with a high nose-up angle, and the airplane "appeared to stall" then dove vertically into the trees. Examination of the accident site revealed wreckage debris and broken trees were scattered approximately 120 feet. The airframe, engines, and the right propeller sustained fire damage. The left propeller, top forward portion of the left engine case, and the left propeller gear shaft and bearings were not located. Examination of recovered components revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction could be determined. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook for the Piper PA-31P, the stall speed for the airplane with the gear and flaps up is: "(7800 lbs) 80 KCAS, 81 KIAS."
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering on initial take off climb resulting in an inadvertent stall, loss of control, and subsequent in-flight collision with trees and a swamp. A factor in the accident was a reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20030620X00918&key=1
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=577FS
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 04-Jun-2015 05:45 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Cn, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:14 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:16 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:20 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 18-Sep-2017 21:53 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 18-Oct-2017 14:35 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
| 18-Oct-2017 15:12 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Destination airport] |
| 08-Dec-2017 18:49 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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