Friday, October 19, 2018

Piper PA-28-140, privately owned and operated, N3631K: Accident occurred October 18, 2018 near Plant City Airport (KPCM), Hillsborough County, Florida

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


https://registry.faa.gov/N3631K 

Location: Plant City, FL
Accident Number: ERA19LA021
Date & Time: 10/18/2018, 1405 EDT
Registration: N3631K
Aircraft: Piper PA28
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On October 18, 2018, about 1405 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N3631K, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Plant City Airport (PCM), Plant City, Florida. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

Prior to departure, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection and no anomalies were noted. The pilot also recalled that all pre-takeoff checks were normal, and there were 6 quarts of oil in the engine. He confirmed that both fuel tanks were full, which amounted to 18 gallons in each tank. The pilot was conducting flight maneuvers that consisted of visual approaches, pattern work and landings at PCM.

After takeoff from PCM, and about 45 minutes into the flight, the pilot switched fuel tanks from the right tank to the left tank. After finishing his flight maneuvers, he proceeded back to PCM and entered on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 10 for a touch and go landing. After the touch and go, while climbing out and accelerating to 85 mph, the engine began to sputter. The pilot leveled off the airplane about 400 ft and checked the rpm, magneto switch, airspeed, mixture, throttle and fuel switch. All seemed ok; and then the engine "quit." The airplane descended into a tree canopy and came to rest in a heavily wooded area. The pilot exited the airplane and waited for emergency services to arrive.

A review of pictures that were taken at the accident site revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The left wing was broken away from the fuselage, the right wing and the cabin section was buckled. The airplane was removed and retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N3631K
Model/Series: PA28 140
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Acurad Systems Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KPCM, 152 ft msl
Observation Time: 1815 UTC
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point: 33°C / 20°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots / , 60°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4700 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.16 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Plant City, FL (PCM)
Destination: Plant City, FL (PCM)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 28.000278, -82.163333 (est)


A small airplane crashed in the wooded area southeast of Plant City Airport this afternoon.

The pilot of the plane, 76-year-old John McKenney, was the only one in the aircraft and was not seriously injured, according to PCPD. He was treated at the scene.

Plant City Police Department received a 911 call about an airplane crash at the airport and while they were en route they found out the accident actually occurred further back on Sydney Road, according to PCPD. Plant City Fire Rescue joined the police at the scene and they had to comb through several hundred yards of thick brush to get to the airplane and its pilot. 

McKenney is from Madeira Beach and at this time the cause of the crash is unknown. The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and will conduct an investigation.

Original article ➤ https://www.plantcityobserver.com

PLANT CITY, Fla. -- A small airplane crashed on Plant City Airport property Thursday afternoon.

Plant City Fire Rescue said the pilot of single passenger aircraft, John W. McKenney, 76, Madeira Beach, has minor injuries, but he refused medical treatment.

The plane crashed in an area that is wooded.

Fire rescue said the pilot was trying to return to the runway, got caught in a crosswind and the plane stalled when it didn't get enough altitude.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.wtsp.com

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