BAD AXE, MI, USA
N6369W
PIPER PA28-140
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH AT ABOUT 200 TO 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE EDGE OF A DITCH ON AIRPORT PROPERTY, SHORT OF THE LANDING RUNWAY. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND SYSTEMS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND AN ENGINE RUN-UP WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE 'PROBABLY COULD HAVE GOT IT RESTARTED...BUT I ONLY HAD 200 FEET OF ALTITUDE. I PUMPED THE THROTTLE AND THAT PROBABLY JUST MADE IT WORSE...(I SHOULD HAVE) JUST LEFT IT WIDE OPEN, IT MIGHT HAVE RESTARTED.' HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT 1.5 HOURS SINCE HE PURCHASED IT; PRIOR TO THAT IT HAD NOT FLOWN FOR ABOUT A YEAR. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POWERPLANT DURING THE FINAL APPROACH FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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