# Accident 20080801855359A: Piper PA12, North Myrtle B, SC, August 1, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 1, 2008, 15:45 local time
- Place: North Myrtle B, SC
- Airport: Grand Strand
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8117° N, 78.7239° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8117&lon=-78.7239&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3424M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3424M-2017-03-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-12 (registry code 7101202, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA12
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 310 total, 4 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA08LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA158) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080801855359A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 MIA08LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA158), Aug 1, 2008: Piper PA-12 (N3424M), N. Myrtle Beach, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.

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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