# NTSB ATL94LA033: Piper PA-28-181, N2205Z, N. Myrtle Beach, SC, December 27, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 27, 1993, 15:03 local (20:03 UTC) - Place: N. Myrtle Beach, SC - Location: 33.8386° N, 78.7109° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from GRAND STRAND (CRE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8386&lon=-78.7109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3335 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3335/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA033 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION IN THAT HE FAILED TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO EXHAUSTING THE FUEL SUPPLY. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND WITH THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. HE SWITCHED TANKS AND THE ENGINE RECOVERED MOMENTARILY, THEN BEGAN TO SPUTTER AGAIN. THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY QUIT, AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF SOME TREES, THEN LANDED IN THE FIELD. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP. THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 3 HOURS AND 43 MINUTES. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE FOUND TO BE EMPTY OF FUEL. WHEN ELECTRICAL POWER WAS APPLIED TO THE AIRCRAFT, BOTH FUEL TANK GAUGES INDICATED ZERO GALLONS. ## Factual narrative On December 27, 1993, at about 1503 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N2205Z, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Enterprise Seven Leasing, Inc., of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was on file for the personal flight to North Myrtle Beach. The flight originated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at about 1120. The pilot reported the following: During the enroute portion of the flight, he flew one hour on the left fuel tank, then two hours on the right fuel tank. He then switched back to the left fuel tank. When he switched back to the left tank, he estimated that he had about 20 to 25 minutes remaining until he reached his destination airport. While performing the pre-landing checklist procedures, he realized that both fuel gauges were reading low. He notified Myrtle Beach Approach that he was low on fuel. He was cleared to land, with the runway in sight, when the engine began to sputter. He switched tanks, and the engine smoothed out. He advised the tower controller that he was very low on fuel. Approximately 4 miles from the runway, the engine began to sputter again, and he switched back to the left tank. He checked the carburetor heat and the fuel pump, but the engine did not regain full power. The engine quit, and he set up for a forced landing in a field. After maneuvering the aircraft to avoid some trees, the aircraft collided with the tree tops, and he landed the aircraft in a soft field. The wheels dug into the soft ground, and the aircraft came to a stop. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration visited the accident site and examined the wreckage. He reported the following: All landing gear were collapsed under the aircraft, and the left wing was wrinkled. There was no visible fuel found in either wing fuel tank. He turned the battery on, and the left and right tank fuel gauges indicated zero gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2205Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2205Z-1997-10-28), registration cancelled 1997-10-28, S/N 287990401 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7990401 - Airframe hours: 4345 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Enterprise Seven Leasing, Inc. - Registered owner: Enterprise Seven Leasing, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 1993, 254 hours before - Departed: CXY, HARRISBURG, PA - Airport: CRE, Grand Strand, runway 23, 5,996 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 222 total, 72 in this make and model, 178 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CRE, 2 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 19931227047269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931227047269A), Dec 27, 1993: Piper PA28181, North Myrtle Be, SC, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach to destination. Brushed tree tops and stall landed in a field. Collapsed gear. Fuel empty. ## Other investigations on N2205Z (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 MIA97LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA055), Jan 1, 1997: Piper PA-28-181 (N2205Z), Florence, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's improper management of fuel resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. 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.