# NTSB ATL02LA139: Piper PA-31-325, N27626, Weaverville, NC, July 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2002, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Weaverville, NC - Coordinates: 35.438056, -82.5475 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4381&lon=-82.5475&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55221 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55221/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55221 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning of fuel to complete the flight that resulted in the exhaustion of the fuel supply. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - all engines - failure,total - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During cruise flight at 12,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) the right engine lost power. The pilot reported the loss of engine power to the Atlanta Air Traffic Control Center. The pilot was instructed by the controller to turn around and proceed to the Ashville Regional Airport. As the pilot maneuvered the left engine lost power. The pilot was directed by the controller to a highway 19 & 23. The airplane collided with trees short of the highway. Examination of the fuel system found both fuel tanks void of fuel and no visible of fuel loss at the accident site. The pilot reported departing with approximately 90 gallons of fuel on board. According to PA-31-325 specifications, the standard fuel quantity is 183 gallons, and the optional fuel capacity is 237 gallons. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2002, at 1600 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-325, N27626, registered to A.E. Cleland Construction, Inc. and operated by a commercial pilot, collided with trees and subsequently the ground following a loss of power in both engines, in Weaverville, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and instrument flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Ridgeland, South Carolina, at 1430, en route to Greeneville, Tennessee, on July 14, 2002. According to the pilot, during cruise flight, at 12,000 feet mean sea level, the right engine lost power and stopped. The pilot reported the loss of engine power to the Atlanta Air Traffic Control Center. The pilot was instructed by the controller to turn towards the Ashville Regional Airport, in Ashville, North Carolina. As the pilot maneuvered the left engine lost power, and quit. The pilot was directed by the controller to highway 19 and 23. The airplane collided with trees short of the highway. Examination of the airplane found damage to the leading edge of both wings, forward cabin area and the empennage. Further examination revealed that both fuel tanks were empty, and there were no visible signs of fuel leakage at the accident site. The pilot reported departing with approximately 90 gallons of fuel on board. According to PA-31-325 specifications, the standard fuel quantity is 183 gallons, and the optional fuel capacity is 237 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27626](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27626-2013-04-26), registration cancelled 2013-04-26, S/N 317812068 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-325 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7812068 - Airframe hours: 5800 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-F2BD 325 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TIO-540-F2BD 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Avery Eugene Cleland - Registered owner: AE Cleland Construction, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2001, 40 hours before - Departed: 3J1, Ridgeland, SC - Destination: GCY, Greeneville, TN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AVL, Ashville Regional, runway 16, 8,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 580 total, 42 in this make and model, 545 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: AVL, 17 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020714019779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020714019779A), Jul 14, 2002: Piper PA31325, Bluffton, SC, No damage. (-23) Heading nw lost right engine, ATC told pilot to turn back to avl, started heading that way and lost left engine, decided to land near highway 19 and 23.… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55221. 247 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40462942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.