Piper Aircraft INC PA-28-181 accident near Addison, Texas, January 15, 2025
On January 15, 2025, a 2020 Piper Aircraft INC PA-28-181, registered N504AF, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Addison, Texas (Addison Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to the partial blockage of the fuel diaphragm metering stem and the No. 1 cylinder fuel injector nozzle. Contributing to the accident was maintenance that allowed the introduction of debris that resulted in the blocked fuel system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2025
- Place
- Addison, Texas · Addison Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper Aircraft INC PA-28-181, built 2020
- Registration
- N504AF · registry record · serial 28020004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, about 150 ft above ground level during the initial climb, the engine lost partial power. Unable to continue the climb, the pilot declared an emergency and attempted to land on the remaining usable runway. The airplane landed hard and the right main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of recorded engine data showed evidence that the engine’s No. 1 cylinder had reduced fuel flow at the time of the accident. Further examination revealed grayish white foreign object debris in the fuel diaphragm metering stem and in the No. 1 cylinder fuel injector nozzle. The debris was consistent with the sealant found on the male threads of the attachment fittings for the fuel flow transducer. Based on the available information, the sealant was likely inadvertently introduced into the fuel line when the fuel flow transducer was replaced the week before the accident. According to the mechanic who performed the maintenance, he removed the sealant following the maintenance instructions provided by the manufacturer. The post maintenance test run was completed without issue. The sealant debris likely migrated to the diaphragm metering stem and fuel injector nozzle, which resulted in a partial blockage, and subsequent restricted fuel flow to the engine during the initial climb and the partial loss of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Hard landing during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Replacement › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel flow sensor › Related maintenance info
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 131 hours in all; 131 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,898.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 25, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B4A (piston); 11,821 hours total
- Operator: Ameriflyers Of Texas INC
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Dallas TX
- Destination: ADS Dallas TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16/3, 7,203 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 6:47 pm from KADS
Weather report (METAR): KADS 150047Z 12005KT 13SM SKC 09/M02 A3037
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Airplane
Photograph 2 – Fuel Flow Transducer Attachment Fittings
Photograph 3 – Fuel Flow Transducer Attachment Fittings
Photograph 4 – Debris Found in Fuel Injector Nozzle/Engine Cylinder No. 1
Photograph 5 – Partially Blocked Diaphragm Metering Stem
Photograph 6 – Extracted Debris From Diaphragm Metering Stem
Photograph 7 - Debris From Diaphragm Metering StemThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on September 23, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Examination Summary | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Mor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Engine Datalog | spreadsheet | Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | NTSB Party Forms | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.