MIAMI, FL, USA
N41431
PIPER PA-28-140
WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE RUN ROUGH WHILE ON TAKEOFF ROLL BUT THE FLIGHT CONTINUED TO TAKE OFF. SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE THE PILOT RADIOED THE TOWER THAT HE WAS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WAS EXECUTING AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO TURN TO A SUITABLE LANDING AREA AND INITIATED A DESCENT. AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL THE AIRPLANE BANKED TO THE LEFT AND TURNED INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO A RESIDENCE AND BURST INTO FLAMES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF WATER INGESTION. THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT FLOWN FOR A WEEK AND WAS STORED OUTSIDE. THE RAINFALL THE PREVIOUS WEEK HAD BEEN HEAVY.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY DRAIN THE FUEL SYSTEM OF WATER. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY. THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF A FORCED LANDING AREA WAS POOR IN THAT A BETTER LANDING AREA WAS AVAILABLE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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