NTSB CAROL · Event
Event ATL92FA026
Registry · N65SD
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PIPER PA-30
Year of manufacture
1967 · 24 years old at event
TCDS
A1EA · PIPER AIRCRAFT INC
Engine
LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES (150 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 2 engines
Last airworthiness date
19670201
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A88BF5
Registrant of record
BLANKENSHIP ROYCE J
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE CONTAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WITH ICE AND WATER, WHICH WAS UNDETECTABLE BY THE PILOT.
Factual narrative
THE PILOT HAD PREFLIGHTED HIS AIRCRAFT AND FOUND WATER IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. A MECHANIC WHO WAS ASSISTING THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE WATER FROZE INSTANTLY WHEN IT CONTACTED THE OUTSIDE AIR. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO DRAW WATER UNTIL NO EVIDENCE OF WATER REMAINED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND TERRAIN. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED ABOUT 5 OUNCES OF WATER IN THE LEFT HEADER TANK, AS WELL AS WATER IN THE FUEL MANIFOLD (SPIDER). THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN ON THE AIRFRAME AFTER THE ACCIDENT. NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1991_ATL92FA026.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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