# NTSB ATL94LA105: Piper PA-24-250, N5512P, Foley, AL, May 24, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 1994, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Foley, AL - Coordinates: 30.399728, -87.679435 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3997&lon=-87.6794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3389 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3389/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA105 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND RESULTANT IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR WERE FACTORS. ## 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 - starvation - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TOOK OFF WITH BOTH FUEL TANKS SHOWING HALF FULL ON THE GAUGES, BUT HE DID NOT VISUALLY INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS FOR FUEL PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A COTTON FIELD. WHILE TRYING TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE PLOWED ROWS, IT STALLED ABOUT 10 FEET AGL, AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS SELECTED IN THE COCKPIT, AND THE FUEL SUMP WAS EMPTY. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 1994, at 0830 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 24-250, N5512P, collided with terrain following an engine power loss near Foley, Alabama. The private pilot had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was on file for the personal flight to Foley. The flight originated at the Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama, at 0825. The pilot reported that he landed the day before the accident with the left fuel tank selected, which was the fullest tank. At the time, the left tank indicated half full. On the morning of the accident flight, he preflighted the airplane, and both tanks indicated half full on the gauges. He did not perform a visual inspection of either tank prior to the accident flight. During the five minute flight to Foley, he retarded the throttle for the descent. When he added power, there was no response to throttle inputs. He set up for a forced landing in a cotton field. During the approach to the cotton field, he turned to align the airplane with the parallel rows of cotton. The aircraft stalled about 10 feet above the ground, and "nosed in." An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration visited the accident site and inspected the wreckage. He reported that the aircraft came to rest in a flat, open field. The area around the aircraft was absent of any ground scars, and there was evidence that the aircraft had impacted the ground in a steep, nose low attitude. The right wing fuel tank was empty of fuel, as was the fuel sump. The fuel tank selector valve was found in the right tank position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5512P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5512P-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 24-575, built 1958 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24575 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lowdermilk, Stephen M. - Registered owner: Lowdermilk, Stephen M. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AL15, GULF SHORES, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,015 total, 420 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BFM, 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 19940524012299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940524012299A), May 24, 1994: Piper PA24250, Foley, AL, Substantial damage. Crashed short of runway. 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.