# Accident 20020803033629A: Piper PA32300, Bluffton, OH, August 3, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 3, 2002, 22:00 local time
- Place: Bluffton, OH
- Airport: Bluffton Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8728° N, 83.8889° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8728&lon=-83.8889&mi=10
- Aircraft: N110CF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N110CF-2022-05-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32300
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA153) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020803033629A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) A PIPER PA-32, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR THE BLUFFTON AIRPORT. THE PLANE LANDED ABOUT 1 1/2 MILE SOUTH OF RUNWAY 5. UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIGHT TIP TANK WAS EMPTY, THERE WAS FUEL IN THE OTHER TANKS. THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITION INFLIGHT IS UNKNOWN. AFTER LANDING THE PILOT PUT THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE NOSE WHEEL GEAR WAS COLLAPSED, AND THE FIREWALL DISPLAYED COMPRESSION WRINKLES.

## 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 NYC02LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA153), Aug 4, 2002: Piper PA-32-300 (N110CF), Bluffton, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's fuel mismanagement with his failure to position the fuel selector to the proper tank which resulted in engine fuel starvation.

## Other reports on N110CF (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20201124020909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201124020909I), Nov 24, 2020: Piper PA-32-300 (N110CF), New Smaryra Bea, FL, Minor damage. During a cross counrty flight on decent at 1600 ft. AGL to land at (evb) new smyrna beach airport. Aircraft experience fuel exhaustion in the right main tank,…
- [Incident 19880802044099I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880802044099I), Aug 2, 1988: Piper PA32300 (N110CF), Ostrander, OH. Pilot making flight with minimum fuel. Engine quit and switching tanks futile. Forced landing.
- [Accident 19850727034179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850727034179A), Jul 27, 1985: Piper PA32300 (N110CF), Delaware, OH, Substantial damage. Heard dull knock and then engine failed. Struck wires during approach to a field. Trigger ramp failed in magneto.

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.