Piper PA-28-151 accident near Goldwaite, Texas, March 17, 2004
On March 17, 2004 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N43656, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goldwaite, Texas. 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
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2004 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Goldwaite, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N43656 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415552
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following a loss of engine power in the single engine airplane, the private pilot executed a forced landing while on approach to a private grass airstrip. While entering the downwind leg, the pilot reduced power and the engine began to run "rough." After carburetor heat was applied, the pilot advanced the mixture, and throttle with no effect. The engine began to develop power momentarily, and then, on base leg, the engine power became intermittent. Realizing the he may not make the landing area, the pilot selected an open field adjacent to the runway; however, he observed obstacles in the field and turned back toward the grass strip. Subsequently, the airplane impacted small trees and brush, approximately 300 feet short of the intended landing strip, and came to rest within 10 feet from the initial impact point. A post-crash fire ensued. After the accident, the spark plugs were removed and dark, black carbon coating was observed on the tips of their respective electrodes and the sides of the electrode posts were "grayish" in color. The #4 cylinder exhaust flange was partially separated from the cylinder flange, and one nut was missing. There was visual evidence of heat concentration and thermal distress around the exhaust flange, and there was smoke residue observed on the lower fuselage. The engine was mounted on a test stand, started, and was operated for five minutes, up to 1,700 RPM. With full throttle applied, the engine RPM did not exceed 1,700 RPM. During the test run, fuel was observed to be leaking from the mating surface between the carburetor bowl and carburetor upper plate. The engine was then shut down, and the 4 bolts that retain the carburetor bowl to the upper plate were tightened down approximately 1/4 turn each in an attempt to further compress the gasket and abate the fuel leak. While tightening the bolts, it was noted that the carburetor was sooted and it appeared that the gasket had some degree of thermal distress. The engine was then started again. Magneto checks were performed at 1,800 RPM with 75-100 RPM drops, and then again at 2,100 RPM with 75 RPM drops. The engine operated for approximately 10 minutes at 2,100 RPM. According to carburetor icing probability charts, and the available temperature and dew point at the time of the accident, the airplane could have been susceptible to moderate or severe carburetor icing at glide power settings.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,560.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 2003; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: F46 Rockwall TX at 8:10 pm
- Destination: NONE Goldwaite TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
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.