# NTSB ATL94LA034: Piper PA-28-181, N4320X, Greer, SC, December 27, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 27, 1993, 18:23 local (23:23 UTC) - Place: Greer, SC - Coordinates: 34.929618, -82.229782 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9296&lon=-82.2298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3336 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3336/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA034 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING IN DETERMINING FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLIGHT. ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON APPROACH FOR GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT ADVISED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT HE HAD TWENTY MINUTES OF FUEL LEFT. ATC OFFERED VECTORS TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WHICH WAS THREE MILES FROM HIS POSITION, BUT THE PILOT DECLINED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE PILOT REQUESTED A DIVERSION TO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT , WHICH ATC APPROVED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD LOST ENGINE POWER AND WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY LANDING. ATC ADVISED THE PILOT OF A HIGHWAY LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM HIS POSITION. DURING THE EMERGENCY APPROACH, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO AVOID ONCOMING AUTOMOTIVE TRAFFIC AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED CALCULATING TWENTY MINUTES OF RESERVE FUEL DURING PREFLIGHT PLANNING. HE STATED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT, HE OBSERVED THAT HIS ACTUAL TIME ENROUTE WAS LESS THAN HE HAD PLANNED, AND THOUGHT HE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HIS USE OF 75% POWER DURING THE FLIGHT INSTEAD OF 65% HE HAD USED FOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND THE ADDITIONAL FUEL BURN AS A RESULT. ## Factual narrative On December 27, 1993, at 1823 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N4320X, was substantially damaged following collision with terrain during a forced landing near Greer, South Carolina. The private pilot was not injured in the accident. A passenger in the aircraft received minor injuries. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was in effect for the flight. The flight departed Baltimore, Maryland for Greenville, South Carolina at 1430 eastern standard time. On approach to Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, the pilot reported to Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel that the aircraft was low on fuel. ATC offered vectors to a nearby airport, which the pilot initially declined. Shortly thereafter, the pilot requested a diversion to the alternate, which ATC provided. Approximately two miles from the alternate airport, the pilot reported loss of engine power and the intention to perform an emergency landing. ATC advised the pilot of a highway within one mile of his position and the pilot reported the highway in sight. The pilot set up an emergency approach, but soon realized that the airplane was headed into automobile traffic. While attempting a 180 degree turn to avoid landing in oncoming traffic, the airplane crashed into trees off of the highway. The pilot reported that he had calculated 20 minutes of reserve fuel during pre-flight planning. He stated that during the flight, he observed that his actual time enroute was less than he had planned, and he thought he would have enough fuel without a planned fuel stop. He stated that he failed to take into account the use of 75% power during the flight, and the additional fuel burn, as opposed to the 65% power used for his fuel burn calculations during his pre-flight planning. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4320X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4320X-1994-08-08), registration cancelled 1994-08-08, S/N 287690003 (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: 28-7690003 - Airframe hours: 2364 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Demyan, John E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 24, 1993, 149 hours before - Departed: BWI, BALTIMORE, MD - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 504 total, 398 in this make and model, 386 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 230° at 11 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GSP, 18 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 19931227047279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931227047279A), Dec 27, 1993: Piper PA28181, Greer, SC, Substantial damage. Low fuel diverted to alternate. Engine quit. Struck trees avoiding traffic on a road. Fuel tanks empty. 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.