# Accident 20190312001219A: Piper PA-31-350, Madeira, OH, March 12, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 12, 2019, 15:16 local time
- Place: Madeira, OH
- Airport: Cincinnati Municipal Airport Lunken
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1794° N, 84.3803° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1794&lon=-84.3803&mi=10
- Aircraft: N400JM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400JM-2021-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (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-31-350
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,392 total, 1,364 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19FA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA124) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190312001219A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 12, 2019, ABOUT 8 MILES NORTH OF DAYTON WRIGHT BROTHERS AIRPORT (KMGY) THE PILOT OF N400JM REQUESTED A "PROGRESSIVE" APPROACH TO KLUK FROM COLUMBUS APPROACH. THE PILOT REPORTED A FUEL PROBLEM AND REQUEST DIRECT TO KLUK. AFTER TALKING TO ATC HE DID NOT WANT TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY OR DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT AND THOUGHT HE HAD THE FUEL PROBLEM RESOLVED. THE RADAR SERVICE WAS TRANSFERRED TO KLUK CONTROLLER ABOUT 7 MILES NORTH OF KLUK AT WHICH TIME THE PILOT  STATED HE WAS HAVING A FUEL PROBLEM AND DIDN?T THINK HE WOULD MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT.

ON INITIAL IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE 38 FEET FROM THE FINAL IMPACT POINT. THE LEFT PROPELLER WAS LOCATED 18 FT FROM THE WRECKAGE. THERE WAS  SUBSTANTIAL ROTATIONAL DAMAGE TO THE  PROPELLER.  THE OUTBOARD SECTION OF THE RIGHT WING HAD BEEN TORN OFF BY THE TREE IMPACT AND WAS LOCATED ON THE ROOF OF THE RESIDENCE.  ALL COMPONENTS OF THE AIRPLANE WERE IN THE VICINITY OF THE WRECKAGE.  NO FUEL SMELL WAS DETECTED AT THE SCENE BY FIRST RESPONDERS

THERE WAS A POST IMPACT FIRE WHICH DESTROYED THE CABIN.  THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS FRAGMENTED AND DESTROYED.  THE ENGINE CONTROL LEVERS WERE FIRE DAMAGED AND ALL LEVERS WERE POSITIONED FULLY FORWARD. THE FUEL SELECTOR PANEL AND TRIM WHEELS WERE CONSUMED BY FIRE. CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED EXCEPT FOR ONE ELEVATOR CABLE ATTACHMENT, WHICH HAD SEPARATED AT IMPACT.

THE LEFT WING REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE FUSELAGE. THE INBOARD SECTION OF WING DISPLAYED HEAT AND IMPACT DAMAGE. FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS IN THE WING ROOT WERE HEAT DAMAGED. NO FUEL OR FUEL SMELL WAS NOTED. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS POSITIONED TO THE OUTBOARD TANK. THE CROSSFEED VALVE WAS CLOSED. THE LEFT AILERON REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE WING, THE AILERON CONTROL CABLES REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE BELLCRANK AND CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE CABIN. THE LEFT FLAP REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE WING.

THE INBOARD SECTION OF THE RIGHT WING AND ENGINE NACELLE REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE FUSELAGE. THE WING SECTION OUTBOARD OF THE NACELLE WAS IMPACT SEPARATED ABOUT WING SECTION 95. THE OUTBOARD WING SECTION WITH A PIECE OF AILERON ATTACHED CAME TO REST ON THE ROOF OF THE HOME, ALONG WITH A SECTION OF THE OUTBOARD TRAILING EDGE. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE OUTBOARD TANK.

THE EMPENNAGE REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE FUSELAGE. THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE EMPENNAGE. THE ELEVATOR CABLES REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE ELEVATOR AND CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED TO THE CABIN. THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND ATTACHED RUDDER REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE EMPENNAGE AND SHOWED NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE. THE RUDDER CABLES REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE RUDDER AND CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED TO THE CABIN. THE ACCIDENT SCENE WAS SECURED UNTIL NTSB ARRIVAL.

(REVIEWED BY FLM BAM ON 04/10/2019)

## 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 ERA19FA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA124), Mar 12, 2019: Piper PA31 (N400JM), Madeira, OH, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Fuel starvation to the left engine and the resulting loss of engine power to that engine, and a loss of airplane control due to the pilot's failure to maintain the minimum controllable airspeed.

## Other reports on N400JM (1)

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

- [Incident 20021031032099I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021031032099I), Oct 31, 2002: Piper PA31350 (N400JM), Watkins, CO, Minor damage. (-23) Aircraft was on ILS approach to front range airport. Pilot stated he broke out of overcast at approx. 300 feet at which time he disengaged autopilot and…

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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