# NTSB ATL89LA044: Piper PA-24-250, N6711P, Ft Mill, SC, November 23, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 1988, 11:36 local (16:36 UTC) - Place: Ft Mill, SC - Coordinates: 35.000221, -80.940711 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0002&lon=-80.9407&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 8, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 68-13-03](https://openairdocs.org/ad/68-13-03) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 7962 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7962/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA044 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - fuel system,cap - leak (cause) - maintenance,compliance with ad - not followed, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACDNT, THE PLT HAD FUELED THE ACFT TO CAPACITY & FLOWN IT A SHORT DISTANCE TO HIS HOUSE AT A PVT AIRSTRIP. AFTER THE FLT, HE NOTICED FUEL ON THE TOPS OF BOTH WINGS, AFT OF THE FUEL FILLER CAPS. HE WAS AWARE THAT FUEL HAD LEAKED FROM THE THERMOS TYPE FUEL CAPS. DURING THE NEXT FLT, WHEN THE ACFT WAS ON AN ILS APCH TO THE DESTN ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT DESCENDED BELOW THE CLOUD LAYER & MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PEACH ORCHARD, WHERE THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 3.63 HRS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED. THE PLT RPRTD IT HAD AT LEAST 4.3 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD AFTER THE LAST REFUELING. HE BELIEVED THAT SOME 5 TO 6 GAL OF FUEL HAD SIPHONED FROM EACH TANK. AD 68-13-03 REQUIRED AN INSPN OF THE FUEL CAPS FOR DRYNESS & HARDNESS AFTER EACH 100 HRS OF FLT. THE LAST ENTRY IN THE LOG FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THIS AD WAS IN 1985 AT APRX 2590 HRS. TOTAL AIRFRAME TIME ON THE DATE OF THE ACDNT WAS 2981 HRS. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6711P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6711P), registered now, S/N 24-1837, built 1960 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1837 - Airframe hours: 2981 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger L. Millheim/Inge E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1988, 87 hours before - Departed: X05, BROOKSVILLE, FL - Destination: CLT, CHARLOTTE, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CLT, Charlotte/Douglas Intl, runway 36R, 7,845 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,132 total, 32 in this make and model, 1,792 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 10 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 19881123051859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881123051859A), Nov 23, 1988: Piper PA24250, Charlotte, NC, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on an ILS approach. Crash landed in a peach orchard. Leaky fuel caps siphoned fuel. Didnt watch fuel ## Other investigations on N6711P (3) 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. - [NTSB FTW75FQG47](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75FQG47), Mar 24, 1975: Piper PA-24 (N6711P), Wayside, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK66X0115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK66X0115), Dec 13, 1965: Piper PA-24 (N6711P), Ciudad Anahac, Mexico, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK64X1585](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X1585), May 3, 1964: Piper PA24 (N6711P), Austin, TX, substantial damage 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.