Piper PA-31-325 accident near Lantana, FL
On June 24, 1994, a Piper PA-31-325 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lantana, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 24, 1994
- Place
- Lantana, FL
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-325 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 26.580°N, 80.070°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01589
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 24, 1994, about 0905 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-325, N27872, registered to Roscoe M. Thorne, crashed shortly after takeoff from the Palm Beach County Park Airport, Lantana, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact and a postcrash fire and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated about 0900. Before departure about 0845, the pilot requested fuel and stated that he was in a hurry. After the fuel truck arrived per the pilot's request, the outboard fuel tanks were filled and 20 gallons of fuel were added to each of the inboard fuel tanks. The fuel quantity in each inboard fuel tank before fueling was not determined. The fueler stated that he did not observe the pilot check the fuel tank for contaminants and while he was reeling in the hose after fueling, the pilot and passenger were in the left and right front seats respectively and the entry door was closed. A total of 70.2 gallons of fuel were added. The airplane was then taxied to the approach end of runway 21 and according to one witness, the airplane remained there for 2-3 minutes, but no determination could be made as to whether the pilot performed an engine runup before departure. According to another witness, the airplane rotated just beyond a taxiway which is south of runway 9/27. Calculations based on an airport map indicate that at the point of rotation about 529 feet of runway remained. The tota
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO DRUGS, HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AFTER EXPERIENCING REDUCED TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM CONTROL SPEED. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO IMPROPER MAGNETO-TO-ENGINE TIMING, AND A PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL NOZZLE.
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Browse: Florida · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
