A Chain of Decisions and a Fatal Outcome
On November 19, 2022, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche (N7295Y) took off for a routine flight. The pilot and passenger were flying from London-Corbin Airport (LOZ) in Kentucky to Smith Reynolds Airport (INT) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
It should have been a smooth trip. Instead, the flight ended in disaster.
Just miles from the airport, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot struggled to control the plane. Moments later, it rolled inverted and crashed behind a house. Both the 64-year-old pilot and his 66-year-old passenger died on impact.
Let’s break down what happened and what pilots can learn from this tragedy.
The Flight and the First Signs of Trouble
Earlier that day, the pilot flew from St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS) to LOZ. Upon landing, he reported an electrical issue but did not request maintenance.
Despite this, he took off again at 10:04 AM for the final leg to Winston-Salem.
At 11:04 AM, just eight miles from the airport, the pilot contacted air traffic control. He was cleared to land on Runway 4. Then came a chilling report:
“I got one engine that’s not making as much power as the other one… we’re okay.”
The aircraft was now at 2,175 feet and descending. The right engine was failing—but the plane was still under control.es west of the airport. The right engine was failing—but the pilot still had control, at least for now.
Missed Opportunities for a Safe Landing
Instead of landing immediately on Runway 4, the pilot continued past the approach path. Then, at 11:08 AM, he requested to land on Runway 33 instead.
ATC approved the request. But this added unnecessary maneuvering—a dangerous choice in a single-engine emergency.
One minute later, at 11:09 AM, the pilot asked to make a right 360-degree turn—his final transmission.
Witnesses later described the aircraft’s last moments:
✅ It banked left to about 45 degrees before briefly leveling out.
✅ It was flying nose-up, just above the trees, with the landing gear down.
✅ The engines were at full power—but only the left one was working.
✅ Suddenly, the plane rolled inverted and dropped straight down.
At 11:10 AM, the aircraft crashed 4,200 feet from Runway 33, behind a house.
Mechanical Findings: Why Did the Right Engine Fail?
The right engine was not producing power at impact. Investigators found the cause:
🔍 The right engine’s fuel servo was faulty.
🔍 It contained plastic contamination (ABS material).
🔍 This caused excess fuel flow at idle, leading to a total engine failure.
🔍 The fuel servo had not been serviced in 23 years—despite 1,035 flight hours.
Had this part been properly maintained, the engine might not have failed.
Pilot’s Actions: The Fatal Errors
Although the engine failure was a problem, the pilot’s actions sealed his fate.
🚨 1. He Failed to Feather the Right Propeller
- The right propeller was windmilling, adding massive drag.
- A windmilling prop makes it nearly impossible to maintain altitude.
- The Piper PA-30 checklist requires feathering the failed propeller immediately.
- The pilot did not feather it, leaving the propeller spinning uselessly.
🚨 2. He Lost Airspeed and Control (Vmc Roll)
- The aircraft’s minimum control speed (Vmc) is 90 MPH.
- As airspeed dropped below Vmc, the plane became uncontrollable.
- The aircraft rolled over and crashed—a textbook Vmc loss-of-control accident.
🚨 3. He Delayed Landing and Picked the Wrong Runway
- The nearest and safest choice was Runway 4.
- Instead, the pilot chose Runway 33, requiring extra turns.
- More time in the air = more risk.
Final Thoughts: A Tragic But Avoidable Accident
TThe Piper PA-30’s engine failure made the situation difficult, but the pilot’s decisions turned it deadly.
If he had:
✅ Feathered the right propeller
✅ Kept airspeed above Vmc
✅ Landed on Runway 4 immediately
…he might have walked away from this flight.
For pilots flying multi-engine aircraft, this accident is a stark reminder:
Losing one engine doesn’t mean losing the airplane—unless you make the wrong choices.
Fly safe. 🛫
