# NTSB ATL05LA022: Piper PA-32-260, N411CP, Chamblee, GA, November 8, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 2004, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Chamblee, GA - Coordinates: 33.883056, -84.297775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8831&lon=-84.2978&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60541 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60541/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power. . ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - residence ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff the engine started to "sputter" and lose power. Efforts by the pilot to restore power were unsuccessful. The pilot declared an emergency and during the forced landing the airplane collided with a house. Examination of the airplane found no fuel in the right and left main fuel tanks and about five gallons of fuel in the left tip tank. The right tip tank separated during the collision sequence. There was no browning of grass or remnants of fuel at the location of the right tip tank. Fuel was not present in the fuel lines leading from the right tip tank to the engine. The engine was successfully run. According to the pilot, the airplane departed with 14 gallons of fuel in the right tip tank. ## Factual narrative On November 8, 2004, at 1530 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32-260, N411CP, registered to and operated by the private pilot collided with a house shortly after takeoff from the DeKalb/Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, Georgia. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The pilot received minor injuries, a resident of the house received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident on November 8, 2004, enroute to Winder, Georgia. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff the airplane's engine started to "sputter" and lose power. Efforts made by the pilot to restore power were unsuccessful. The pilot declared an emergency and during the forced landing the airplane collided with a house. Examination of the airplane found no fuel in the right and left main fuel tanks and about five gallons of fuel in the left tip tank. The right tip tank separated during the collision sequence however there was no browning of grass or remnants of fuel at the location of the right tip tank. There was no fuel present in the fuel lines from the right tip tank to the engine. The airplane was recovered by Atlanta Air Recovery for further examination. The engine was successfully run at Atlanta Air Recovery. According to the pilot, the airplane departed with 14 gallons of fuel in the right tip tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N411CP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N411CP-2007-01-23), registration cancelled 2007-01-23, S/N 32-7500003, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7500003 - Airframe hours: 3378.28 - Engines: Avco Lycoming O-540-E4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard Hunter Ranzau - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2004, 35.3 hours before - Departed: PDK, Dekalb, GA - Destination: WDR, Winder, GA ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 300° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: PDK ## 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 20041108033999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041108033999A), Nov 8, 2004: Piper PA32260, Chamblee, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) At 1530 on November 8, 2004, after takeoff from runway 2R at dekalb-peachtree airport (pdk) in atlanta, GA, Piper N411CP experienced a loss of power. The… 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.