# Accident 20040423007409A: Piper PA28R200, Atkinson, NC, April 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 23, 2004, 20:53 local time
- Place: Atkinson, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2731° N, 77.9042° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2731&lon=-77.9042&mi=10
- Aircraft: N32891, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32891-2006-02-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-200 (registry code 7102811, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R200
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 580 total, 52 in this make and model, 64 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04CA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA091) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040423007409A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 ATL04CA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA091), Apr 24, 2004: Piper PA-28R-200 (N32891), Delco, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

## Other reports on N32891 (2)

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

- [Incident 20020818024839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020818024839I), Aug 18, 2002: Piper PA28R200 (N32891), Martinsburg, WV, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot stated that upon landing at mrb the nose gear collapsed. No injuries and minor aircraft damage.
- [Incident 19991117039759I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991117039759I), Nov 17, 1999: Piper PA28R200 (N32891), Spartenburg, SC, Minor damage. Aircraft made an emergency landing at gsp due to electrical failure. Rt gear collapsed on landing. No injuries of fire. Minor damage to aircraft.

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.