# NTSB ATL93LA049: Piper PA-30, N7712Y, Crossville, TN, January 2, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1993, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Crossville, TN
- Location: 35.9518° N, 85.0671° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from CROSSVILLE MEML-WHITSON FLD (CSV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9518&lon=-85.0671&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8721
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8721/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA049

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW CHECKLIST PROCEDURES IN THAT HE DID NOT UTILIZE THE ALTERNATE GEAR EXTENSION METHOD WHEN ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST. A FACTOR WAS HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST WHEN HE FAILED TO TURN ON THE GENERATORS PRIOR TO FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN ELECTRICAL FAILURE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - electrical system - loss,total (contributing factor)
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - generator - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Gear not extended, landing
  - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - gear extension - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO THE LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT TOTAL ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST. HE COULD NOT LOWER THE FLAPS, AND WHEN HE LOWERED THE GEAR HANDLE, NO GREENS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HE ELECTED TO RAISE THE GEAR HANDLE AND LAND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED DURING THE LANDING. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS REMOVED FROM THE RUNWAY, AN FBO EMPLOYEE LOWERED THE GEAR HANDLE, AND THE GEAR EXTENDED AND LOCKED. HE THEN TURNED ON THE MASTER SWITCH, AND OBSERVED 3 GREEN GEAR DOWN LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE MANUAL ALTERNATE GEAR EXTENSION METHOD. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM HIS FAILURE TO TURN ON THE GENERATORS DURING THE FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7712Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7712Y-2012-07-19), registration cancelled 2012-07-19, S/N 30-801, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-801
- Airframe hours: 2765
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Upchurch, Cornell P.
- Registered owner: Upchurch, Cornell P.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 1992, 3 hours before
- Departed: CSV
- Destination: CSV
- Airport: CSV, Crossville Memorial, runway 8, 5,418 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 2,900 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CSV, 1 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 19930102000139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930102000139A), Jan 2, 1993: Piper PA30, Crossville, TN, Substantial damage. Landed gear upl. Reported electric failure, none found. Gear can be extended manually.

## Other investigations on N7712Y (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 MIA82DA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82DA145), Jul 2, 1982: Piper PA-30 (N7712Y), Clearwater, FL, 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.

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