# NTSB ATL90LA034: Piper PA-23-150, N1361P, Jackson, TN, December 3, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 3, 1989, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Jackson, TN
- Location: 35.5999° N, 88.9156° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at JACKSON RGNL (MKL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5999&lon=-88.9156&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8185
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90LA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8185/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA034

## Probable cause

LOSS OF POWER IN BOTH ENGINES (PROBABLE FUEL STARVATION) DUE TO IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT(S), AND LACK OF SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR.  SOFT TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering
  - planning/decision - improper, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOTS WERE CONDUCTING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TRAINING & THE ACFT WAS OVER THE VOR WHEN THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE & ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE THE POWER, BUT WAS UNABLE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE RIGHT ENGINE QUIT. THE CFI TRIED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE SELECTED RUNWAY. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ON SOFT TERRAIN SHORT OF RUNWAY 20 & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE ENGINE OR ACFT SYSTEMS. BOTH ENGINES OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A POST-ACCIDENT CHECK. THE TEMPERATURE & DEW POINT WERE 30 & 7 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO CARBURETOR ICING CHARTS, CARBURETOR ICING WAS NOT PROBABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1361P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1361P-2012-10-11), registration cancelled 2012-10-11, S/N 23-410, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23410
- Airframe hours: 6750
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-C23B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Bolivar Aircraft Sales
- Registered owner: Bolivar Aircraft Saces
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 16, 1989, 36 hours before
- Departed: BOLIVAR, TN
- Destination: JACKSON, TN
- Airport: MKL, Mckeller Field, runway 20, 6,008 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,030 total, 253 in this make and model, 1,836 as pilot in command, 204 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## Other investigations on N1361P (1)

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 ATL91LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA038), Jan 14, 1991: Piper PA-23 (N1361P), Bolivar, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE INTERRUPTION OF FUEL TO THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO CONTAMINATION OF THE LEFT FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN ENGINE STOPPAGE.

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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