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ATL92FA026

1991-11-25 · CARROLLTON, Georgia, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

N65SD has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (PIPER PA-30, built 1967), which was not involved in this event.

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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