Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Gordon, Alabama, September 17, 1989
On September 17, 1989 at about 8:22 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7503J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gordon, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FUEL GASCOLATOR BOWL BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL LEAKAGE AND A LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 1989 · about 8:22 pm local time
- Place
- Gordon, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7503J · registry record · serial 28R-30867
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SPEED LIMIT SIGN DURING A FORCED LDG ON A HWY. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN INVERTED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT HAD ADVISED ATC HE WAS EXPERIENCING FUEL PRESSURE PROBLEMS AND HAD A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE GASCOLATOR BOWL WAS LOOSE, EVEN THOUGH THE BAIL-WIRE RETAINING NUT WAS SAFETIED IN THE MAXIMUM-TIGHT POSITION. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE BAIL-WIRE DID NOT CONFORM TO THE SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS SPECIFIED BY PIPER AIRCRAFT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BOWL COULD BE TIGHTENED DOWN ONLY IF THE RETAINING NUT WAS TIGHTENED WITH THE BAIL WIRE IN AN OFF-CENTER POSITION. THE AIRPLANE HAD UNDERGONE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ABOUT 1 OPERATING HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE INSPECTION REPORTED THAT THE GASCOLATOR WAS REMOVED AND CLEANED DURING THE INSPECTION.
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: 405 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 366 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,103 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 7A3 Lanett AL at 7:30 pm
- Destination: MAI Marianna FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from DHN, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.