20030802018899A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-31-310 · Jupiter, FL · August 2, 2003

Date: August 2, 2003 · 13:05 local
Place: Jupiter, FL
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N876RD
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA03LA154
Reported as: Piper PA31310
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,250 total25 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

N876RDRegistration cancelled Sep 29, 2014 · Piper PA-31-310S/N 31-7300974 · Built 1973 Airframe modelPiper PA-31-310 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

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.

(-23) Pilot stated that he took off in IFR from cak to fxe. He cancelled inst flight around charlotte, NC. About 70 miles from fxe he switched fuel tanks and noticed the right tank was very low. He realized that he was running out of fuel and tried to make it to tailwinds airpark (private arpt). He was unsuccessful and crashed in an orange grove nearby. (-23 amendment) N876RD was conducting a part 91 flight from akron-canton, oh to ft. lauderdale, FL. Approaching west palm beach, Florida the pilot contacted palm beach approach control and advised them he was low on fuel, subsequently fuel exhaustion caused both engines to fail. The pilot made an emergency landing in an orange grove located in Jupiter, FL. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the Piper (PA-31-310) navajo received substantial damage as a result of the accident.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT HE TOOK OFF IN IFR FROM CAK TO FXE. HE CANCELLED INST FLIGHT AROUND CHARLOTTE, NC. ABOUT 70 MILES FROM FXE HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND NOTICED THE RIGHT TANK WAS VERY LOW. HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL AND TRIED TO MAKE IT TO TAILWINDS AIRPARK (PRIVATE ARPT). HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND CRASHED IN AN ORANGE GROVE NEARBY. (-23 AMENDMENT) N876RD WAS CONDUCTING A PART 91 FLIGHT FROM AKRON-CANTON, OH TO FT. LAUDERDALE, FL. APPROACHING WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA THE PILOT CONTACTED PALM BEACH APPROACH CONTROL AND ADVISED THEM HE WAS LOW ON FUEL, SUBSEQUENTLY FUEL EXHAUSTION CAUSED BOTH ENGINES TO FAIL. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN ORANGE GROVE LOCATED IN JUPITER, FL. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES; THE PIPER (PA-31-310) NAVAJO RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

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 MIA03LA154Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportJupiter, FLThe pilot's failure to adequately plan for the flight which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a forced landing, and damage to the airplane during the landing.Aug 2, 2003 · Substantial damage