# NTSB ATL95LA040: Piper PA-28-151, N32411, Orange Beach, AL, January 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 15, 1995, 19:38 local (Jan 16, 1995, 01:38 UTC) - Place: Orange Beach, AL - Coordinates: 30.28087, -87.590934 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2809&lon=-87.5909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3516 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3516/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA040 ## Probable cause A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS INITIATING A VISUAL APPROACH FOR LANDING. HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS TO THE LEFT TANK POSITION, AND THE ENGINE ROUGHENED UP, AND QUIT. UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY, HE FORCE LANDED IN A WOODED, SWAMPY AREA. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, A TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMED ON THE AIRFRAME. THE ENGINE STARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, AND RAN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ## Factual narrative On January 15, 1995, at 1938 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-151, N32411, force landed in a swamp following an in flight loss of engine power near Orange Beach, Alabama. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated in Ft. Myers, Florida, at an undetermined time. The pilot reported that he was switching fuel tanks prior to the visual approach to the Jack Edwards Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama. After switching to the left fuel tank, which indicated 8 to 10 gallons of fuel, the engine "roughened up, and consequently quit." His altitude at the time was insufficient to make the runway, so he set up for a tree top landing. The aircraft impacted in a swampy area, coming to rest on its nose. The aircraft was transported to a storage and salvage facility, where an engine inspection could be performed. There was evidence of fuel in both fuel tanks. The fuselage was secured, and the engine was test run on the airframe. The engine started on the first attempt. The electric boost pump operated satisfactorily. The engine was run for about 20 minutes, and the test run was terminated. Compression was observed on all cylinders, and both magnetos were operative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32411](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32411-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 28-7515151, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 287515151 - Airframe hours: 2100 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Doggett, Joe E. - Registered owner: Doggett, Joe E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 27, 1994, 40 hours before - Departed: FMY, FT. MYERS, FL - Destination: AL15, GULF SHORES, AL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: AL15, Jack Edwards, runway 27, 5,399 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,800 total, 700 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PNS, 25 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 19950115000409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950115000409A), Jan 15, 1995: Piper PA28151, Gulfshores, AL, Substantial damage. Reported engine quit on approach to AL15 after switching tanks. Landed in a swamp. No anomalies found. ## Other investigations on N32411 (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 MKC78FCA50](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC78FCA50), Sep 4, 1978: Piper PA-28 (N32411), Thayer, MO, substantial damage 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.