Piper PA-28-180 accident near Fayetteville, North Carolina, February 22, 1998
On February 22, 1998 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N1404T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fayetteville, North Carolina (Fayetteville Rgnl/Grannis 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
fuel system contamination (rubber shavings), which led to blockage of a fuel line, fuel starvation, loss of engine power, and a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 1998 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fayetteville, North Carolina · Fayetteville Rgnl/Grannis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N1404T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7205294
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he made five or six touch-and-go landings on runway 4, then switched from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank. The airplane appeared to continue running normally until after he turned onto his final approach. When he attempted to make a power adjustment by advancing the throttle on final approach, the engine did not respond. The pilot switched fuel tanks and turned on the electric boost pump, but there was no change in engine response. The pilot then made an emergency landing in an unprepared area about one mile south of the airport and was damaged. According to an FAA inspector, he examined the engine and determined everything appeared normal. He then examined the carburetor and found fuel. The gascolator bowl had no fuel in it. After finding fuel in both fuel tanks, the FAA inspector examined the fuel lines for blockage. He discovered rubber shavings in the left main fuel supply line which were obstructing fuel flow from the left tank.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 675 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 584 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAY Fayetteville NC at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 7,204 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:30 pm from FAY, 1 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.