# NTSB ATL84MA296: Piper PA-31T3, N9193Y, Atlanta, GA, September 24, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1984, 16:09 local (20:09 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Location: 33.6367° N, 84.4279° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HARTSFIELD/JACKSON ATLANTA INTL (ATL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6367&lon=-84.4279&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 6 serious, 5 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6569
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84MA296
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6569/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84MA296

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - fuel system - incorrect (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,installation - improper (contributing factor)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate
  - procedure inadequate, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate
- Forced landing, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE NORMAL FUEL LOAD FOR THE FLT WAS 1500 LBS, BUT WITH A FORECAST TAIL WIND & AN ESTIMATED FLT TIME FOR ONLY 1+10, THE CREW ACCEPTED THE LOWER INDCTD (950 LB) FUEL LOAD. THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL AN INDCTN OF 250 LBS PER SIDE, THEN THE FUEL 'SEEMED TO DISSIPATE FASTER.' WITH AN INDCTN OF 150 LBS ON DWNWND, THE COPLT RCMDD DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. THE CAPT'S RESPONSE WAS TO ASK ATC FOR THE ANTICIPATED LENGTH OF THE DWNWND LEG. HE WAS TOLD 20 MI. PRIORITY HNDLG WAS REQUESTED, BUT WAS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR A DECLARED EMERGENCY. THE APCH WAS CONTD WITH NORMAL HNDLG FOR APRX 10 MIN. AT 1608:39, THE CREW DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, THEN RPRTD THE ACFT WAS OUT OF FUEL. IT CRASH LANDED ON ROUGH TERRAIN, SHORT OF RWY 8. AN EXAM REVEALED FUEL SENSORS HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED (INTERCHANGED BTN THE INBRD & OUTBRD TANKS). THUS THE GAGES INDCTD ABOUT 180 LBS MORE THAN THE APRX 763 LBS THAT WAS ACTUALLY ABOARD AT TKOF. A SPCL 500 HR INSPN OF THE ENTIRE FUEL SYS WAS MADE ON 7/8/84 USING THE 'WET' METHOD, BUT ONLY THE CAPACITANCE METHOD CHECKS EACH INDIVIDUAL SENSOR

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9193Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T3
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31T-8275010
- Airframe hours: 1857
- Engines: P&W PT6A-11 500 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Pee Dee Air Express, Inc, doing business as Trans Southern Airways
- Registered owner: Hrs Textiles, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 18, 1984, 30 hours before
- Departed: FLO, FLORENCE, SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ATL, Hartsfield Airport, runway 8, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,309 total, 439 in this make and model, 3,154 as pilot in command, 245 in the last 90 days, 87 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AT, 1 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 19840924050799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840924050799A), Sep 24, 1984: Piper PA31T3, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. A combination of inaccurate fuel indication and pilot not positive about fuel load caused fuel exhaustion crash.

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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