# NTSB ATL91FA073: Piper PA-24-250, N7457P, Franklin, TN, March 30, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 29, 1991, 19:14 local (Mar 30, 1991, 01:14 UTC)
- Place: Franklin, TN
- Coordinates: 35.879314, -86.949134 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8793&lon=-86.9491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8317
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91FA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8317/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91FA073

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT A PROPER FUEL TANK FOR FLIGHT, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE, AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE STOPPAGE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT, AND HIS FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS (ICING).

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power, descent - emergency
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT TO ST. LOUIS. WHILE APPROACHING THE NASHVILLE, TN. AREA, HE ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS, AND REQUESTED A DESCENT. THE ICING PERSISTED, SO HE REQUESTED AN ILS APPROACH TO NASHVILLE. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 12 MILES SSW OF THE NASHVILLE AIRPORT, AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD LOST POWER, AND WAS STALLING. AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT, AUXILIARY FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY OF FUEL, AND THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS STILL IN THE 'LEFT AUX' TANK POSITION. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7457P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7457P-1991-08-01), registration cancelled 1991-08-01, S/N 242647 (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: 24-2647
- Airframe hours: 2240
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hannasch, Thomas P.
- Registered owner: Hannasch, Thomas P.
- Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 1991, 29 hours before
- Departed: LZU, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA
- Destination: SUS, ST. LOUIS, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BNA, Nashville Intl., runway 2, 7,702 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 693 total, 41 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BNA, 12 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 19910329007899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910329007899A), Mar 29, 1991: Piper PA24250, Nashville, TN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stalled into trees on IFR approach,fuel selector on empty aux tank. No mechanical defect. Reported icing,heavy snow

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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