Piper PA32RT accident near Fletcher, North Carolina, December 28, 2019
On December 28, 2019 at about 10:35 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA32RT, registered N27GB, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Fletcher, North Carolina (Asheville Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A failure of two of the oil pump drive gear’s teeth, which resulted in a loss of engine oil lubrication, and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2019 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Fletcher, North Carolina · Asheville Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32RT 300, built 1978 · all PA32RTs on the register
- Registration
- N27GB · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7885203
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after taking off, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power so he subsequently performed a forced landing to a parking lot. During the approach to land, he thought the oil pressure gauge was in the “yellow,” and the engine felt like it was “rolling back.” During the impact sequence, the airplane struck a chain link fence, and an electrical distribution box before coming to rest. Much of the airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. Examination of the engine revealed that the drivetrain could not be rotated during an attempted rotation by hand of the propeller. Removal of the six cylinders revealed discoloration consistent with lack of lubrication of the connecting rod journals; furthermore, the number four connecting rod was separated from the crankshaft. Removal of the accessories, accessory case, and oil sump revealed that two of the oil pump’s drive gear teeth were fractured. No visible damage was observed to the idler gear which drove the oil pump. Examination revealed the idler gear would not rotate the oil pump drive gear with two separated teeth. Examination of the oil pump drive gear indicated that the two teeth fractured in overstress under rotation. The direction of bending and shear in the teeth fracture was consistent with the direction of rotation of the gear. Given this information, it is likely that the lack of rotation of the oil pump due to the broken teeth resulted in a lack of lubrication to the engine and the subsequent total loss of engine power. The reason for the failure of the oil pump drive gear teeth could not be determined.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 327 hours in all; 224 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 295 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 28, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,081.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2019; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1GD5 (piston); 4,082 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AVL Asheville NC at 10:30 pm
- Destination: RYY Atlanta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 7,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from AVL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| LapC | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on March 22, 2022. 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, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements and Interview Summaries | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Kavl - ATC Audio Recording (2200Z) | audio | View Download |
| 4 | Kavl - ATC Audio Recording (2230Z) | audio | View Download |
| 5 | Kavl - Airport Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Satellite Image of Accident Area | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | PDF, 20 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Memorandum for Record - Wreckage Examination | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 28 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Materials Laboratory Errata Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Wreckage Release and Evidence Control | PDF, 7 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.