# Accident 20010712016919A: Piper PA34200T, Baco Raton, FL, July 12, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 12, 2001, 17:35 local time - Place: Baco Raton, FL - Airport: Boca Raton Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 26.3783° N, 80.1075° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3783&lon=-80.1075&mi=10 - Aircraft: N3054J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3054J-2015-05-20) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-34-200T (registry code 7103406, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental TSIO-360 series (registry code 17019, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA34200T - Reported engine: CONT TSIO360* - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 3,038 total, 150 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA01LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA182) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010712016919A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON JULY 12, 2001, ABOUT 1735 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-34-200T, N3054J, REGISTERED TO MRX AVIATION INC., OPERATING AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 BUSINESS FLIGHT, IMPACTED WITH A LIGHT POLE AND SEVEN VEHICLES DURING A FORCED LANDING, SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE FROM THE BOCA RATION MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (BCT), FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT, A PASSENGER ON THE AIRPLANE, AND ABOUT 14 PEOPLE ON THE GROUND REPORTED MINOR TO NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT HAD JUST DEPARTED AND WAS EN ROUTE TO SANFORD, FLORIDA. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB HE HAD LANDED AT BCT EARLIER IN THE DAY, CONDUCTED SOME BUSINESS IN THE LOCAL AREA AND WAS RETURNING TO SANFORD WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE SAID HE HAD PUT ABOUT 140 GALLONS OF FUEL ON THE AIRCRAFT AT ONE OF THE FIXED-BASE OPERATORS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE DEPARTURE. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD LIFTED OFF OF RUNWAY 24, WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. HE GOT THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED, AND ATTEMPTED TO FEATHER THE LEFT ENGINE BY CYCLING THE PROPELLER LEVER WITHOUT SUCCESS. AT THIS POINT HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE OR AIRSPEED. HE NOTED THAT H E WAS LOW, AND THAT THE AIRSPEED HAD DECAYED TO 78 KNOTS (83 WAS VMC). HE ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 95, BEFORE THE AIRPLANE STARTED A VMC ROLL. HE LANDED IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION ON THE NORTHBOUND LANES OF THE HIGHWAY, FIRST STRIKING A LIGHT POLE WITH THE LEFT WING, AND THEN SEVEN VEHICLES. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION, GEAR UP, FOR ABOUT 1/4 OF A MILE BEFORE COMING TO REST WITH THE NOSE HEADING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. (-23) ON JULY 12, 2001, ABOUT 1735 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-34-200T, N3054J, REGISTERED TO MRX AVIATION INC., OPERATING AS A TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 BUSINESS FLIGHT, IMPACTED WITH A LIGHT POLE AND SEVEN VEHICLES DURING A FORCED LANDING, SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE FROM THE BOCA RATION MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (BCT), FLORIDA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT, A PASSENGER ON THE AIRPLANE, AND ABOUT 14 PEOPLE ON THE GROUND REPORTED MINOR TO NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT HAD JUST DEPARTED AND WAS EN ROUTE TO SANFORD, FLORIDA. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB HE HAD LANDED AT BCT EARLIER I N THE DAY, CONDUCTED SOME BUSINESS IN THE LOCAL AREA AND WAS RETURNING TO SANFORD WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE SAID HE HAD PUT ABOUT 140 GALLONS OF FUEL ON THE AIRCRAFT AT ONE OF THE FIXED BASE OPERATORS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE DEPARTURE. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD LIFTED OFF OF RUNWAY 24, WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. HE GOT THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED, AND ATTEMPTED TO FEATHER THE LEFT ENGINE BY CYCLING THE PROPELLER LEVER WITHOUT SUCCESS. AT THIS POINT HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE OR AIRSPEED. HE NOTED THAT HE WAS LOW, AND THAT THE AIRSPEED HAD DECAYED TO 78 KNOTS (83 WAS VMC). HE ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 95, BEFORE THE AIRPLANE STARTED A VMC ROLL. HE LANDED IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION ON THE NORTHBOUND LANES OF THE HIGHWAY, FIRST STRIKING A LIGHT POLE WITH THE LEFT WING, AND THEN SEVEN VEHICLES. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION, GEAR UP, FOR ABOUT 1/4 OF A MILE BEFORE COMING TO REST WITH THE NOSE HEADING IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE LEFT ENGINE WAS TESTED AND RAN NORMALLY, NO PROBLEM WAS REPORTED WITH THE RIGHT ENGINE BUT IT WAS EXAMINED AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE FUEL SUPPLIED FROM THE FIXED BASE OPERATION AT BOCA RATON OR WITH THE FUEL SAMPLED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH FUEL SELECTORS WERE FOUND IN THE CROSS FEED POSITION. THE PILOTS OPERATING HANDBOOK STATES "WHEN ONE ENGINE IS INOPERATIVE AND THE FUEL SELECTOR FOR THE OPERATING ENGINE IS ON CROSS FEED THE SELECTOR FOR THE INOPERATIVE ENGINE MUST BE IN THE OFF POSITION. DO NOT OPERATE WITH BOTH SELECTORS ON CROSS FEED. DO NOT TAKE OFF WITH A SELECTOR ON CROSS FEED. FUEL AND VAPOR ARE ALWAYS RETURNED TO THE TANK ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE OPERATING ENGINE." (.4) JUST AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. HE CHECKED THAT THE MIXTURE, PROPELLERS, AND THROTTLES WERE ALL FULL FORWARD, AND THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS "ON." HE SAID, "...I CHECKED THE FUEL SELECTORS BY FEEL ONLY." HE RECYCLED THE LEFT ENGINE FEATHER CONTROL AND MADE THE DECISION TO LAND GEAR UP. HE RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR, AND ATTEMPTED TO FEATHER THE LEFT ENGINE AGAIN WITHOUT SUCCESS. AT THIS POINT HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE OR AIRSPEED, ESTIMATED THAT HIS ALTITUDE WAS "BETWEEN 150-200 FEET," AND THE AIRSPEED HAD DECAYED TO 78 KNOTS (83 WAS VMC). HE EL ECTED TO LAND ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, BEFORE THE AIRPLANE STARTED A VMC ROLL. HE LANDED IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION ON THE NORTHBOUND LANES OF THE HIGHWAY, FIRST STRIKING A LIGHT POLE WITH THE LEFT WING, AND THEN SEVEN VEHICLES. AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE TWO OCCUPANTS EVACUATED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE PASSENGER SAID HE WAS "IN A PUDDLE OF FUEL." THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ".. REACHED DOWN AND MOVED THE FUEL SELECTORS BACK. THEY WERE FULL FORWARD IN THE 'ON' POSITION. I MISSED THE 'OFF ' AND MISTAKENLY MOVED THEM TO CROSSFEED AS I EXITED THE AIRPLANE." EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SELECTORS AT THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THAT BOTH ENGINE FUEL SELECTORS WERE IN THE "CROSSFEED" POSITION. THE LEFT ENGINE WAS TEST RUN, AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT ENGINE. THE FUEL WAS VISUALLY EXAMINED FOR CONTAMINATION AND WATER, NONE WAS OBSERVED. EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT ENGINE REVEALED, NO DISCREPANCIES. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB MIA01LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA182), Jul 12, 2001: Piper PA-34-200T (N3054J), Boca Raton, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power, and the pilot unable to feather the propeller for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing on a highway, subsequent impact with a pole and vehicles. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.