19991219042039A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-24-400 · Naples, FL · December 19, 1999

Date: December 19, 1999 · 12:20 local
Place: Naples, FL
Phase of flight: Forced Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8469P
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA00LA055
Reported as: Piper PA24400
Reported engine: Lycoming IO720A1A
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 977 total600 in this make and model30 in the last 90 days

N8469PRegistration cancelled Mar 3, 2000 · Piper PA-24-400S/N 26-44 Airframe modelPiper PA-24-400

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.

(.4)The pilot stated he was on approach for landing at the dest ination airport. He selected an empty fuel tank (auxiliary tank), experienced a total loss of engine power, and crashed during a forced landing. (-23)on December 19, 1999, at approximately 1400Z, privacy data omitted departed the lawerenceville ga airport (lzu) in Piper comanch N8469P, with one passenger on an IFR flight plan. At approximately 1700Z, the pilot canceled IFR with rsw ATC 15 miles sorth of wings south airpark (15X) and began a visual approach to the airport. Upon turning right base for runway 36, the engine quit and the pilot made an off airport forced landing into a wooded area adjcent to am aartment. Complex during the investigation the pilot stated that the aircraft fuel selector was on the right auxiliary fuel tank when the engine quit which indicated very little fuel, and when he selected the left auxiliary fuel tank, his aircraft altitude was too low to try and restart the engine.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT STATED HE WAS ON APPROACH FOR LANDING AT THE DEST INATION AIRPORT. HE SELECTED AN EMPTY FUEL TANK (AUXILIARY TANK), EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND CRASHED DURING A FORCED LANDING. (-23)ON DECEMBER 19, 1999, AT APPROXIMATELY 1400Z, ^PRIVACY D^ DEPARTED THE LAWERENCEVILLE GA AIRPORT (LZU) IN PIPER COMANCH N8469P, WITH ONE PASSENGER ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. AT APPROXIMATELY 1700Z, THE PILOT CANCELED IFR WITH RSW ATC 15 MILES SORTH OF WINGS SOUTH AIRPARK (15X) AND BEGAN A VISUAL APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT. UPON TURNING RIGHT BASE FOR RUNWAY 36, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT MADE AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING INTO A WOODED AREA ADJCENT TO AM AARTMENT. COMPLEX DURING THE INVESTIGATION THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE RIGHT AUXILIARY FUEL TANK WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT WHICH INDICATED VERY LITTLE FUEL, AND WHEN HE SELECTED THE LEFT AUXILIARY FUEL TANK, HIS AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE WAS TOO LOW TO TRY AND RESTART THE ENGINE.

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 MIA00LA055Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportNaples, FLThe pilot's improper fuel management and selection of an empty fuel tank (auxiliary) on approach for landing. This resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, forced landing, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.Dec 19, 1999 · Substantial damage