# Accident 20160814013419A: Piper PA-31-325, Northport, AL, August 14, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 14, 2016, 11:20 local time
- Place: Northport, AL
- Airport: Tuscaloosa Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.2228° N, 87.5997° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2228&lon=-87.5997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N447SA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N447SA-2019-11-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-325 (registry code 7103105, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-325
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 6
- Fatal injuries: 6
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 699 total, 48 in this make and model, 48 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16FA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA289) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160814013419A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 14, 2016, APPROXIMATELY 1120 (CST), N447SA PIPER PA-31-325, REPORTED FUEL PUMP ISSUES DURING FLIGHT RESULTING IN AIRPLANE IMPACTING TREES AND TERRAIN NEAR TUSCALOOSA REGIONAL AIRPORT (TCL). PILOT FILED AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION, TO OXFORD UNIVERSITY AIRPORT (UOX), OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI; PILOT REPORTED A FUEL PUMP FAILURE AND WAS DIVERTED BY (ATC),TO THE TUSCALOOSA REGIONAL AIRPORT (TCL). APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM (TCL), THE PILOT REPORTED A SECOND FUEL PUMP FAILURE. AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A PUBLIC PARK IMPACTING SEVERAL TREES AND TERRAIN. FORWARD SECTION OF AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY POST-IMPACT FIRE AND AFT-SECTION OF AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTAINTIAL DAMAGE FROM SEVERAL TREES. PILOT AND FIVE PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED.

## 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 ERA16FA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA289), Aug 14, 2016: Piper PA 31 (N447SA), Northport, AL, substantial damage, 6 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of power in both engines due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's fuel mismanagement, and his subsequent failure to follow the emergency checklist. Contributing to the pilot's…

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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