Piper PA-28-140 accident near Clearwater, Florida, June 28, 2002
On June 28, 2002 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N2935Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clearwater, Florida (Clearwater Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2002 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clearwater, Florida · Clearwater Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N2935Q · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 10 minutes into the flight, the pilot reported that the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot stated it sounded like it was running out of fuel. The pilot switched to 121.50 frequency to announce a May-Day distress call and looked for a clearing site where he could make an emergency landing. The pilot prepared to land on the roadway. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane for the forced landing, the right wing struck two vehicles. The airplane came to rest with the leading edge of the left wing on the a vehicles windshield. The post-accident examination of the airplane discovered fuel in the fuel tank but failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,858 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 2002; 3,852 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,392 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3FD1 Lake Wales FL at 3:00 pm
- Destination: CLW Clearwater FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from TPA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.