On July 20, 1988, a Piper PA-24-260 (registration N8949P) operated by Jack J. Chatagnier was involved in an aviation accident near LA Grange, TX. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported that the engine did not respond when power was added during downwind. He landed on the last half of the runway, the aircraft departed the runway, struck lights and a fence post. An FAA inspector could not determine the cause.
Incident Details
According to the pilot's account, after flying over the airport to assess the wind conditions, he concluded that they favored a landing on Runway 18. He then proceeded to descend to the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. When he attempted to increase engine power, the engine did not respond as expected, though it continued to operate. Faced with this situation, the pilot decided to shorten the approach by flying an abbreviated pattern. He selected full flaps and aimed to touch down on the final half of the available runway length. The landing resulted in tire skid marks that first appeared approximately 600 feet before the end of the runway and then extended to the right side of the runway's end. The aircraft subsequently struck several runway-edge lights, went over an embankment, and collided with a fence post.
Investigation
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the wreckage but was unable to ascertain the reason for the engine's lack of response.
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