Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Piper PA-24-250 Comanche, N14FC: Accident occurred June 26, 2022 in Warm Springs, Meriwether County, Georgia

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia 
Piper Aircraft; Vero Beach, Florida
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania


Location: Warm Springs, Georgia
Accident Number: ERA22LA291
Date and Time: June 26, 2022, 14:10 Local 
Registration: N14FC
Aircraft: Piper PA-24-250 
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On June 26, 2022, about 1410 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, N14FC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Warm Springs, Georgia. The private pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot reported that the instrument flight rules flight departed from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), Clearwater, Florida, about 1150 and proceeded enroute to his home airport of Newnan Coweta County Airport (CCO), Newnan, Georgia. After about 2 hours and 15 minutes enroute, 20 miles south of the destination, the pilot completed an enroute descent from 8,000 ft mean sea level (msl) to 5,000 ft msl. Upon the level off, the engine power was set to 2,300 RPM, however, it abruptly decreased to 1,500 RPM. The pilot reported that the engine did not sputter, but rather it just “rolled back.” He then moved the mixture to rich, ensured the fuel selector was selected to the main tanks, and turned on the electric fuel pump, however, power did not increase. Subsequently, he declared an emergency to air traffic control, and they advised him of the Roosevelt Memorial Airport (5A9), Warm Springs, Georgia behind his flight path.

The pilot completed a left 180° turn and saw the 18-36 runway about 6-7 miles ahead. He reported that he believed he was too high to descend toward the runway at best glide airspeed and started to descend at a faster rate. During the maneuvering toward the runway, the RPM further reduced from 1,500 RPM to 0 RPM and the propeller completely stopped turning. The pilot reported that this significantly increased the rate of descent, and it became clear that his glide path toward the runway would no longer be sufficient to reach the runway. He recalled maneuvering toward a road, however, the airplane impacted a wooded area about 1.5 miles north of runway 18, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.

The airplane was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper 
Registration: N14FC
Model/Series: PA-24-250 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: CCO,970 ft msl
Observation Time: 14:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 21 Nautical Miles 
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C /19°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 4200 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.14 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Clearwater, FL (PIE) 
Destination: Newnan, GA (CCO)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious 
Latitude, Longitude: 32.971525,-84.697594 (est)

Aircraft departed, experienced engine issues and made an emergency landing in a field. 

Date: 26-JUN-22
Time: 18:15:00Z
Regis#: N14FC
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA24
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: SERIOUS
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Operation: 91
City: WARM SPRINGS
State: GEORGIA

5 comments:

  1. Why did he care if he would have been "too high" over the airport with Vg? Just get to the airport, then descend in the pattern!

    And why didn't he land on the adjacent highway?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replies
    1. Yep on that engine. No mention of checking the carb heat during descent...or even when the engine was first saying "good night". Maybe the knob fell off or the dog ate the checklist.

      Delete
  3. Why is there no photograph or video footage of it?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Was Dr. Carrie madej on this plane?

    ReplyDelete