Piper PA-28-140 accident near Clayton, Alabama, July 1, 1993
On July 1, 1993 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5473S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clayton, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1993 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Clayton, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5473S · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED TO APPROACH CONTROL THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE PILOT WAS ISSUED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. HIS LAST REPORTED ALTITUDE WAS 900 FT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND IN A LARGE WOODED AREA APRX 5 MI FROM THE CLAYTON AIRPORT. EXAMINATION AND TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING RICH. THE CARBURETOR HOUSING BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND COULD BE TURNED BY HAND. FUEL LEAKED FROM THE HOUSING DURING THE TEST RUN. THE CARBURETOR THROTTLE SHAFT AND BUSHINGS SHOWED SIGNS OF EXTENSIVE WEAR, AND WERE LOOSE IN THE HOUSING. THE FLOAT PENDULUM WAS NOT EVEN. AIRPLANE RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED, INSPECTED, AND REPAIRED APRX 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,459 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1993; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EDN Enterprise AL at 1:30 pm
- Destination: FAY Fayetteville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from CSG, 28 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.