Piper PA-28-180 accident near Overgaard, Arizona, August 10, 2013
On August 10, 2013 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9752J, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Overgaard, Arizona (Mogollon Airpark 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
The partial loss of engine power during takeoff due to the separation of the exhaust baffling, which resulted in a partial blockage of airflow. Contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance of the exhaust system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2013 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Overgaard, Arizona · Mogollon Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9752J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3879
- 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, during takeoff, the airplane became airborne but that it did not accelerate as he expected and that the engine was not producing full power. The pilot adjusted the fuel mixture to full rich and switched fuel tanks with no change in performance. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing to an open area beyond the departure end of the runway. During the landing, the airplane struck a ravine and then came to rest upright. During an engine test run, the engine ran normally until reaching about 2,000 rpm, at which point, it began to run roughly and black smoke began expelling from the exhaust. Examination of the exhaust system found that the baffles within the muffler assembly were partially separated and restricted the airflow ducts within the exhaust. The restricted airflow would result in a loss of engine power at higher engine rpm settings. No additional mechanical anomalies were observed with the recovered engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane manufacturer's service manual contained a warning stating, "a very thorough inspection of the entire exhaust system, including the exhaust heater shroud assembly, muffler and muffler baffles, stacks, and all exhaust connections and welds must be accomplished at each 100-hour inspection." Further, the service manual contained a note stating, "all PA-28 airplanes be fitted with a new muffler at or near the 1,000-hour period of which the muffler has been used." The most recent 100-hour/annual inspection was completed at an engine time since overhaul of 1,257 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated about 8 hours of operation since the annual inspection. The annual inspection logbook entry for the engine noted that the exhaust system was inspected; however, a review of the engine and airframe logbook records revealed no entries noting that the muffler or exhaust system was replaced.
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 takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › (general) › Failure
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 22,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,498 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2013; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AZ82 Overgaard AZ at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,420 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from SOW, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.