- Date
- December 7, 1994, 20:41 local (Dec 8, 1994, 01:41 UTC)
- Place
- N. Myrtle Beach, SC
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8075SPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report August 23, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941207040969A
- Case key
- 3502
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to properly pre-flight the airplane to ensure the left fuel tank cover was properly secured.
Analysis
The flight, which originated from linden, new jersey around 1630 eastern standard time, collided with approach lights and terrain during a forced landing at north Myrtle Beach airport. The pilot reported that the engine quit, while on a two mile final to runway 23. Although both fuel tank gauges read empty, the pilot believed the left fuel gauge was inaccurate. During the wreckage examination, no fuel was found in either fuel tank and the left fuel cap was missing from the left wing. The right fuel cap was placed on the left fuel tank and it functioned normally.
Factual narrative
On December 7, 1994, about 2041 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8075S, collided with approach lights and the ground during a forced landing at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There were no injuries to the private pilot nor his passenger, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Linden, New Jersey, at 1630 EST on the same day. The destination was North Myrtle Beach.
According to the pilot, the left fuel gauge was reading empty 20 to 30 miles away from the airport. The pilot believed that the gauge was inaccurate. The pilot used the right fuel tank until it indicated empty. He then switched to the left tank approximately five miles from the airport. When the airplane was on a four mile final, the engine quit. The pilot switched back to the right fuel tank and restarted the engine. The pilot stated that he noticed the fuel tank cover was missing from the left wing. The airplane continued until on a two mile final when the engine quit. The pilot attempted to glide the airplane onto the runway. The airplane struck approach lights, which separated the left wing, and impacted the ground.
The Myrtle Beach Airport traffic controller reported that the pilot called him when he was 20 miles northeast of the airport. He cleared the pilot to land on runway 23. The pilot did not mention he was having any problems with the airplane.
The investigation into this accident revealed that the there was no fuel in the aircraft and the left fuel cap was missing. The right fuel cap was removed from the right wing and placed on the left fuel tank opening and it functioned normally.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8075S
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 288016043
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Toledo, Oscar
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Unknown · July 1, 1994
- Departed
- LDJ · Linden, NJ
- Destination
- CRE
- Airport
- CRE · Grand Strand Airport, runway 23, 9,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 31
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 280 total · 230 in this make and model · 200 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CRE
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.