# NTSB ATL88LA103: Piper PA-23-250, N198CD, Cleveland, OH, March 5, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 4, 1988, 20:19 local (Mar 5, 1988, 01:19 UTC)
- Place: Cleveland, OH
- Coordinates: 41.549777, -81.479209 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5498&lon=-81.4792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7714
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7714/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA103

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE PLT RPTD THAT BOTH ENGINES BEGAN TO SURGE SHORTLY AFTER T/O DURING CLIMB. THE ENGINES SUBSEQUENTLY LOST PWR COMPLETELY, AND THE PLT MADE A FORCED LDG IN TREES. POST-CRASH EXAM REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTORS WERE IN THE INBD TANK POSITIONS. THE LT INBD TANK WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY W/NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE PRESENT. THE RT INBD TANK WAS DESTROYED. THE LT OTBD TANK WAS ALMOST FULL, WHILE THE DAMAGED RT OTBD TANK WAS PARTIALLY FULL. EXAM OF THE ENGINES SEVERAL DAYS LATER REVEALED ONLY TRACE AMOUNTS OF FUEL. NO EVIDENCE OF WATER CONTAMINATION WAS FOUND ANYWHERE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PLT STATED THAT HE TOOKOFF WITH THE FUEL SELECTORS ON THE OTBD TANK POSITIONS AND SWITCHED TO THE INBD POSITIONS AFTER THE ENGINES BEGAN TO SURGE. THE OAT WAS ABOUT 20 DEG F.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N198CD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N198CD-2009-03-10), registration cancelled 2009-03-10, S/N 27-7654141, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27 7654141
- Airframe hours: 2320
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: D. C. Holding Corporation
- Registered owner: Dc Holding Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1987, 30 hours before
- Destination: CMH, COLUMBUS, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CGF, Cuyahoga County, runway 5, 5,101 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,045 total, 42 in this make and model, 904 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CGF, 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 19880304005859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880304005859A), Mar 4, 1988: Piper PA23250, Cleveland, OH, Substantial damage. Both engines quit on climbout. Crash landed in trees. Fuel selectors on inboard empty tanks. Outboard tanks full.

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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