# NTSB ATL89FA066: Piper PA-31, N9034Y, Springfield, OH, January 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 3, 1989, 08:12 local (13:12 UTC)
- Place: Springfield, OH
- Location: 39.8754° N, 83.8069° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from SPRINGFIELD/BECKLEY MUNI (SGH), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8754&lon=-83.8069&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7872/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA066

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION PRECIPATATED BY THE INADEQUATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS PERFORMED BY THE PILOT, PRESSURE FROM THE COMPANY PRESIDENT TO NOT CARRY EXCESS FUEL AND IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISIONS BY THE PILOT BY NOT REFUELING ENROUTE BEFORE FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE AND CERTIFICATION OF THE OPERATOR BY THE FAA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - company-induced pressure, company/operator management (cause)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate certification/approval, faa(organization) (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS MAKING A CONTRACT CARGO FLT UNDER FAR 91 RULES AND HAD EXPERIENCED ICG ENROUTE. WHEN JUST PAST DAYTON, HE INDICATED THAT HE 'HAD A LITTLE FUEL PROBLEM' AND NEEDED TO GET INTO OSU WITHOUT DELAYS. A SHORT TIME LATER HE INDICATED THAT HE NEEDED TO GO TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. HE WAS VECTORED TOWARD SGH FOR LDG. HE THEN INDICATED THAT HE HAD LOST AN ENGINE AND A SHORT TIME LATER INDICATED THAT HE HAD LOST THE OTHER ENGINE. THE ACFT CRASHED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THERE WAS NO FIRE AND ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRPLANE. THE COMPANY PRESIDENT INDICATED THAT HE DID NOT ENCOURAGE HIS PILOTS TO CARRY 'EXCESS FUEL'. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THIS PILOT, ALONG WITH OTHERS, HAD BEEN 'CHEWED OUT' FOR CARRYING 'EXCESS FUEL'. THE OPERATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED UNDER FAR 135 RULES SINCE THE COMPANY HAD RETAINED OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE OPERATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9034Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9034Y-2013-05-17), registration cancelled 2013-05-17, S/N 31-47, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-310](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-310) (registry code 7103102) (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: 31-47
- Airframe hours: 5906
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-A1B 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Apollo II Limited
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1988, 102 hours before
- Departed: MQJ, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Destination: OSU, COLUMBUS, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SGH, Beckley Mun.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; commercial, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,041 total, 57 in this make and model, 660 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 3 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAY, 17 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 19890103000029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890103000029A), Jan 3, 1989: Piper PA31310, Springfield, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Ran out of fuel during vectors to nearest airport. Impacted nose and wing low. Drops not feathered. Cargo was loose

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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