NTSB BFO88LA023 — 1988-02-21 · ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, United States

Current FAA registration · N32019

Make / Model: PIPER PA-28-180
Year of manufacture: 1974 · 14 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19740917
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A370ED

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N32019 Piper PA-28-180 None

Factual narrative

THE PLT SAID HE DID A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT WHICH INCLUDED A CHECK FOR WATER IN THE FUEL. TANKS WERE PARTIALLY FULL- 17 GALS IN EACH ONE. A PRE-TAKEOFF ENG RUNUP WAS NORMAL. DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB THE ENG HAD A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. AFTER HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM HE DITCHED THE ACFT IN A NEARBY CREEK. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CARBURETOR LIQUID CONTENT WAS HALF FUEL AND HALF WATER. THE CARB WAS DRAINED AND THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER THREE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS RESULTED IN ABOUT ONE MINUTE OF OPERATION BEFORE IT STOPPED BY ITSELF. CHEMICAL TEST OF THE LIQUID CONTENT OF THE CARB DISCLOSED THAT 23 VOLUME PERCENT OF THE WATER WAS NOT CREEK WATER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1988_BFO88LA023.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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