# Accident 20231203020589A: Piper PA-32-260, Millington, TN, December 3, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 3, 2023, 21:04 local time
- Place: Millington, TN
- Airport: Millington
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3682° N, 89.8592° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3682&lon=-89.8592&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7748J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7748J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-260 (registry code 7103206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 145 total, 12 in this make and model, 37 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231203020589A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 3RD APPROXIMATELY 1832 LOCAL PA32-260 LEFT KJKA GULF SHORES, ALABAMA BOUND TO KNQA MILLINGTON TN. UPON ARRIVAL INTO THE MEMPHIS AREA THE PILOT IN COMMAND CANCELED FLIGHT FOLLOWING AND ENTERED THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC AREA AT KNQA. THE PIC ENTERED THE DOWNWIND, BASE, AND FINAL WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PIC MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT OUTBOARD TANK AND THE ENGINE STARTED FOR ONLY A FEW SECONDS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND SLID TO STOP INSIDE AIRPORT PROPERTY. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN 379 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY 22 AND CAME TO REST 284 FEET FROM THE END OF RUNWAY 22. HEADING OF THE AIRCRAFT IS 200° AT LOCATION N35.36.72 W089.86.03. THE PROPELLER WAS BENT BACKWARDS ON BOTH TIPS. LEFT WING WAS BROKE AT THE INBOARD SPAR AND AILERON CABLES WERE STILL INTACT. NOSE STRUT WAS BROKEN AND UNDER THE ENGINE, LEFT MAIN STRUT AND WHEEL WAS BROKEN AND UNDER THE LEFT WING, RIGHT MAIN WHEEL BROKEN AND WAS IN THE FIELD BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT. THROTTLE AND PROP CONTROLS WERE FULL FORWARD, AND THE MIXTURE WAS IN CUT OFF POSITION. FUEL SELECTOR POSITION WAS IN THE LEFT-WING TANK. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE LEFT INBOARD TANK WAS EMPTY, AND LEFT TIP TANK WAS EMPTY. THE RIGHT TIP TANK HAD 13 GALLONS, AND THE RIGHT INBOARD TANK HAD 3 GALLONS REMAINING FUEL. AFTER TALKING WITH THE IIC WE DETERMINED THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT IS FUEL MISMANAGEMENT.

## 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 ERA24LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA054), Dec 4, 2023: Piper PA-32-260 (N7748J), Millington, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots’ fuel mismanagement during the cross-country flight and incorrect fuel tank selection for the landing approach, which resulted in fuel starvation, a momentary loss of engine power, and…

## Other reports on N7748J (2)

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

- [Incident 19830418018499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830418018499I), Apr 18, 1983: Piper PA32260 (N7748J), Winston Salem, NC, Minor damage. Pilot made an emergency landing in a field after experienced loss of engine power. Suspect carburetor ice.
- [Accident 19810405015379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810405015379A), Apr 5, 1981: Piper PA32260 (N7748J), Pompano Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit on final approach. Investigation indicates improper fuel management. Aircraft crashed short of runway.

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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