- Date
- April 2, 1994, 18:47 local (23:47 UTC)
- Place
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4298YPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940402007439A
- Case key
- 3366
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to place the aircraft fuel selector to the tank with fuel remaining.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, the aircraft engine stopped producing power. He attempted a forced landing, and during the landing roll, the aircraft struck a building. Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the fuel selector was selected to the right fuel tank. The right fuel tank had one pint of fuel remaining, and the left tank had ten gallons of fuel remaining. A test run of the aircraft engine revealed that the engine operated normally at various speeds. The aircraft fuel gauges operated normally.
Factual narrative
On April 2, 1994, about 1847 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N4298Y was substantially damaged following a forced landing near Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Neither the private pilot nor his passenger were injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The flight departed Walnut Grove, North Carolina about 1647.
The pilot reported that the engine began to run roughly, and he elected to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft struck a building prior to coming to rest in the field.
Examination of the aircraft revealed that the right fuel tank had one pint of fuel remaining in the tank. The left fuel tank had approximately 10 gallons of fuel remaining. The aircraft fuel tank selector was selected to the right fuel tank. The aircraft fuel line to the carburetor was dry, and the carburetor bowl was empty. The aircraft fuel pump was checked and was working properly. The aircraft fuel gages were checked, and were working properly.
A test run of the aircraft engine showed the engine to start easily, and operate normally at various speeds.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4298Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 8390048
- Airframe hours
- 5,865
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Collier, Stephen C.
- Registered owner
- Piedmont Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 18, 1994 · 47 hours before
- Departed
- NC28 · Walnut Grove, NC
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 20
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 98 total · 3 in this make and model · 67 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- INT, 15 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.