# NTSB ATL84FA116: Piper PA-24-260, N9011P, Manassas, VA, March 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 5, 1984, 21:56 local (Mar 6, 1984, 02:56 UTC)
- Place: Manassas, VA
- Location: 38.7468° N, 77.4826° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Manassas, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7468&lon=-77.4826&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6262
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6262/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA116

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, missed approach (ifr)
  - flight/nav instruments,altimeter - undetermined
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - low level (cause)
  - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (cause)
  - missed approach - initiated, pilot in command
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
- Forced landing, approach
  - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON MISSED APPROACH AT NIGHT IN WEATHER CONDITIONS BELOW THE DESTINATION MINIMUMS AFTER APRX 5 HOURS AND 25 MINUTES OF FLIGHT. PERFORMANCE COMPUTATIONS INDICATED THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT OR NEAR THE TIME OF PROJECTED FUEL EXHAUSTION. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION COULD NOT DETERMINE THAT A MALFUNCTION IN THE ALTIMETER OCCURRED BEFORE IMPACT. SEVERAL WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGINE 'CUT-OUT' BEFORE IMPACT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS AFTER AN ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9011P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-4472
- Airframe hours: 3987
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D445 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles R. Casassa
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 1983, 188 hours before
- Departed: TMB, MIAMI, FL
- Destination: W22, WOODBRIDGE, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: W10, Manassas Municipal, runway 16R, 3,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,422 total, 3,256 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 188° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD, 11 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 19840305008999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840305008999A), Mar 5, 1984: Piper PA24260, Manassas, VA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Fuel exhaustion on approach in below minimum approach weather. Had flown non stop to end of PA24 fuel range. No res

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.

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