19860921045669A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-140 · Indiana, PA · September 21, 1986

Date: September 21, 1986 · 16:45 local
Place: Indiana, PA
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6004U
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC86LA241
Reported as: Piper PA28140
Reported engine: Lycoming O320E2A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student

N6004URegistration cancelled Sep 21, 1995 · Piper PA-28-140S/N 2826903 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-140

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Engine problem (.4)the acft was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of eng power. Examination of the acft showed the fuel selector was on the the left tank which contained no useable fuel. There was useable fuel remaining in the right tank. The plt stated that the accident could have been prevented by 'having the presence of mind to switch fuel tanks when left tank went dry'.

As the FAA filed it

ENGINE PROBLEM (.4)THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENG POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT SHOWED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE THE LEFT TANK WHICH CONTAINED NO USEABLE FUEL. THERE WAS USEABLE FUEL REMAINING IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY 'HAVING THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS WHEN LEFT TANK WENT DRY'.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC86LA241Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportIndiana, PAThe acft was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of eng power. Examination of the acft showed the fuel selector was on the the left tank which contained no useable fuel. There was useable fuel remaining in the right tank. The plt…Sep 21, 1986 · Substantial damage