# Accident 20060101000839A: Piper PA23160, Pheonix City, AL, January 1, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 1, 2006, 16:22 local time
- Place: Pheonix City, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4211° N, 85.2481° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4211&lon=-85.2481&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4370P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4370P-2007-12-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-23-160 (registry code 7102304, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA23160
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL06CA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060101000839A

## Narrative

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

(-23) VFR FLIGHT WITH FLIGHT FOLLOWING. WHILE DEVIATING AROUND THE WEATHER TO REMAIN IN VFR CONDITION PILOT STATED HE HIT A WALL OF CLOUDS AND CALLED ATLANTA APPROACH TO REQUEST A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE AND HEADING. HE STATED THAT THE RUNWAY WAS NOT VISIBLE AT AIRPORT THAT HE WAS DIRECTED TO, FOR LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO RUN LOW ON FUEL. PILOT STATED THAT HE REQUESTED TO ATLANTA (ATC) CONTROLLER THAT HE HAD TO LAND AND WOULD TRY AN (ILS) APPROACH. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED SEVERAL APPROACHES WITH THE HELP OF SEVERAL (ATC) CONTROLLERS BUT KEPT DRIFTING OFF COURSE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. ON THE LAST APPROACH ATTEMPT THE PILOT LOST BOTH ENGINES, DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES ROLLED INVERTED AND IMPACTED GROUND TAIL UP. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, THE PASSENGERS RECEIVED ONE MINOR AND ONE SERIOUS.

## 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 ATL06CA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA031), Jan 2, 2006: Piper PA-23-160 (N4370P), Phenix City, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate decision to continue VFR flight into IMC conditions, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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.

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