Piper PA-28-161 accident near Lebanon, Tennessee, October 15, 1999
On October 15, 1999 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N3013C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, Tennessee (Lee Field). 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
The inadequate annual inspection of the airplane by the mechanic for his failure to note that the threaded portion of the bail wire had 2 1/2 failed threads which resulted in the inability to keep the gascolator bowl tightly secured. Also his failure to note this condition during replacement of the gascolator seal following a similar loss of engine power on the first takeoff following the annual inspection which was performed approximately 3 hours earlier. A contributing factor to the accident was the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1999 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Tennessee · Lee Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N3013C · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff about 75 feet agl, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot landed the airplane on the remaining runway and collided with trees, separating the right wing. Post accident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the gascolator bowl was loose and fuel leakage was noted at the gascolator when the auxiliary fuel pump was turned on. The threaded portion of the bail wire P/N 494 644, was noted to have 2 1/2 failed threads near the top. The gascolator was bypassed, the engine was started and found to operate normally. During the last annual inspection, the gascolator seal was replaced. It was reported by the pilot that on the first takeoff following the annual inspection, the engine experienced a loss of power in an identical manner; an uneventful landing occurred. Following the uneventful landing, the mechanic who performed the annual inspection and the pilot noted that the gascolator seal was not seated properly. A rubber gascolator seal was installed to replace the cork type seal that had been installed during the annual inspection. The airplane had accumulated approximately 3 hours since the annual inspection at the time of 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 29,870 hours in all; 210 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 27,370 as pilot in command; 2,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,678 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1999; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1TN0 at 5:30 pm
- Destination: JWN Nashville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BNA, 20 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.