# NTSB ATL87LA159: Piper PA-28-181, N2846N, Greer, SC, June 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1987, 21:14 local (Jun 6, 1987, 01:14 UTC)
- Place: Greer, SC
- Location: 34.8692° N, 82.2332° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG INTL (GSP), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8692&lon=-82.2332&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7445
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7445/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA159

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

ENGINE QUIT DURING DESCENT FOR LANDING. PIC LNDED IN FIELD, LEFT WING STRUCK TREE AND WAS SEPARATED FROM ACFT. PIC RPTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. ON POST CRASH EXAM ENG RAN PROPERLY AND RIGHT WING FUEL QUANTITY SYS WAS OPERABLE. NO FUEL STAINS WERE SEEN ON THE ACFT. PRE FLT FUEL CONSUMPTION ESTIMATE PROVIDED BY PIC MATCHED PILOT HANDBOOK PERFORMANCE CHARTS. PIC STATED THAT FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE BUT WERE NOT COMPLETELY FULL. STATED USEABLE FUEL CAPACITY IS BASED ON FUEL NEARLY FLOWING OUT OF FUEL FILLER HOLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2846N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2846N), registered now, S/N 28-7990490 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7990490
- Airframe hours: 2550
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pensacola Navy Flying Club,
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 20, 1987, 7 hours before
- Departed: PNS, PENSACOLA, FL
- Destination: GSP, GREER, SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GSP, Greenville Spartanburg, runway 3, 7,600 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 728 total, 62 in this make and model, 430 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSP, 2 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 19870605018889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870605018889A), Jun 5, 1987: Piper PA28181, Greer, SC, Substantial damage. The aircraft struck a tree during a forced landing. The engine had failed due to fuel exhaustion.

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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