# NTSB ATL89LA002: Piper PA-24-250, N100J, Monroeville, AL, October 1, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1988, 13:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place: Monroeville, AL
- Coordinates: 31.510204, -87.320953 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5102&lon=-87.3210&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7934
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7934/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA002

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE HAD REQUESTED THE ACFT BE FULLY SVCD WITH FUEL BEFORE TAKEOFF; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL. HE RPRTD THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, HE HAD FLOWN ABOUT 50 MIN WHEN HE NOTED THE RGT TANK, WHICH HE WAS USING, INDCD EMPTY. HE SAID HE NORMALLY FLEW FOR AN HOUR BEFORE SWITCHING TO ANOTHER TANK. BELIEVING HE HAD USED ONLY 9 GAL FROM THE 30 GAL TANK, HE ELECTED TO DELAY SWITCHING TO THE OTHER TANK. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OTHER TANK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE SUFFICIENT POWER TO SUSTAIN FLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, DRG AN EMERG LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & A FENCE, THEN CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE RGT TANK WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY; ONLY 7 GAL OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N100J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N100J-2000-10-25), registration cancelled 2000-10-25, S/N 24-2152 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-2152
- Airframe hours: 3112
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ivy V. Ausburn
- Registered owner: Ivy Van Ausburn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 26, 1988, 28 hours before
- Departed: MEI, MERIDIAN, MS
- Destination: 2J9, QUINCY, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: MVC, Monroe County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 800 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F

## 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 19881001042529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881001042529A), Oct 1, 1988: Piper PA24250, Monroeville, AL, Destroyed. Engine quit en route when one tank ran dry, unable restart on other, crashed in trees. Failed to preflight fuel.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.