20080801855359A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-12 · North Myrtle B, SC · August 1, 2008

Date: August 1, 2008 · 15:45 local
Place: North Myrtle B, SC
Airport: Grand Strand
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3424M
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA08LA158
Reported as: Piper PA12
Reported engine: Lycoming O320A2B
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 310 total4 in this make and model32 in the last 90 days

N3424MRegistration cancelled Mar 10, 2017 · Piper PA-12S/N 12-2288 · Built 1947 Airframe modelPiper PA-12 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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) Pilot stated that he had 1/4 tank of fuel in left tank and 1/3 tank of fuel in the right tank just before the engine sputtered once and completely cut off immediately after. He states that he called Grand strain tower and was going to try to make the runway. He states that he released the banner. He states that he called the tower again to announce that he was going in the ocean. Life guard stated aircraft went down in ocean about 30 yards from shore. Pilot was helped to shore by life guards. Aircraft was towed by privacy data omitted back to the airport. FAA inspector arrived at airport. Found no fuel in either tank. Found no water in either tank. Found fuel in gasolator bowl. Found only water in carb. Fuel system integrity appeared to be unimpaired.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD 1/4 TANK OF FUEL IN LEFT TANK AND 1/3 TANK OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK JUST BEFORE THE ENGINE SPUTTERED ONCE AND COMPLETELY CUT OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER. HE STATES THAT HE CALLED GRAND STRAIN TOWER AND WAS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THE RUNWAY. HE STATES THAT HE RELEASED THE BANNER. HE STATES THAT HE CALLED THE TOWER AGAIN TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE WAS GOING IN THE OCEAN. LIFE GUARD STATED AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN IN OCEAN ABOUT 30 YARDS FROM SHORE. PILOT WAS HELPED TO SHORE BY LIFE GUARDS. AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ BACK TO THE AIRPORT. FAA INSPECTOR ARRIVED AT AIRPORT. FOUND NO FUEL IN EITHER TANK. FOUND NO WATER IN EITHER TANK. FOUND FUEL IN GASOLATOR BOWL. FOUND ONLY WATER IN CARB. FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY APPEARED TO BE UNIMPAIRED.

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 MIA08LA158Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportN. Myrtle Beach, SCA total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.Aug 1, 2008 · Substantial damage