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20040423007409A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-28R-200 · Atkinson, NC · April 23, 2004

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
April 23, 2004 · 20:53 local
Place
Atkinson, NC
Phase of flight
Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N32891
NTSB investigation
NTSBATL04CA091
Reported as
Piper PA28R200
Reported engine
Continental IO360*
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
580 total52 in this make and model64 in the last 90 days
N32891Registration cancelled Feb 2, 2006 · Piper PA-28R-200S/N 28R-7535098 · Built 1974Airframe modelPiper PA-28R-200Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

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) On April 24 at approximately 0043Z a Piper pa 28R-200 aircraft called a "mayday" on the wilmington (ilm) approach control frequency. The aircraft stated it was having an engine problem. Within 3 minutes the aircraft made an off-airport landing in a field near the town of delco, NC. During the landing the aircraft struck a line of trees, separating the left wing from the fuselage and injuring both occupants. Post accident investigation revealed that the aircraft engine failed due to fuel starvation. At the time of the engine failure the aircraft had been flying for approximately 2.3 hours. During that flight time the fuel tank selector had not been moved from its position for the right fuel tank only. The aircraft fuel burn had been calculated by the flight crew at 10 gph for the flight. The right fuel tank, which was full prior to takeoff, holds 24 gallons of useable fuel. Post accident investigation of the aircraft revealed that the right fuel tank did not contain any significant amount of fuel and the left fuel tank contained fuel. At the time of the accident the aircraft was being operated on a part 61 instrument training flight under the regulations of 14 CFR part 91.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON APRIL 24 AT APPROXIMATELY 0043Z A PIPER PA 28R-200 AIRCRAFT CALLED A "MAYDAY" ON THE WILMINGTON (ILM) APPROACH CONTROL FREQUENCY. THE AIRCRAFT STATED IT WAS HAVING AN ENGINE PROBLEM. WITHIN 3 MINUTES THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING IN A FIELD NEAR THE TOWN OF DELCO, NC. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A LINE OF TREES, SEPARATING THE LEFT WING FROM THE FUSELAGE AND INJURING BOTH OCCUPANTS. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLYING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.3 HOURS. DURING THAT FLIGHT TIME THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR HAD NOT BEEN MOVED FROM ITS POSITION FOR THE RIGHT FUEL TANK ONLY. THE AIRCRAFT FUEL BURN HAD BEEN CALCULATED BY THE FLIGHT CREW AT 10 GPH FOR THE FLIGHT. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK, WHICH WAS FULL PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, HOLDS 24 GALLONS OF USEABLE FUEL. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK DID NOT CONTAIN ANY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED FUEL. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PART 61 INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLIGHT UNDER THE REGULATIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91.

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 ATL04CA091Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportDelco, NCThe flight instructor's improper fuel management resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A factor was the flight instructor's failure to use the checklist.Apr 24, 2004 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N32891 · 2

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

Incident 20020818024839ILevel Off Touchdown · Martinsburg, WV(-23) Pilot stated that upon landing at mrb the nose gear collapsed. No injuries and minor aircraft damage.Aug 18, 2002 · Minor damageIncident 19991117039759ILevel Off Touchdown · Spartenburg, SCAircraft made an emergency landing at gsp due to electrical failure. Rt gear collapsed on landing. No injuries of fire. Minor damage to aircraft.Nov 17, 1999 · Minor damage