- Date
- February 8, 1998, 17:49 local (22:49 UTC)
- Place
- Deland, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N925ITPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 4, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 3964
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 loss of engine power due to the pilots inadequate fuel management.
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
According to the pilot, after takeoff, about 30 to 40 feet, the engine had a sudden loss of power. A forced landing was attempted straight ahead, with the airplane coming to rest in a plant nursery. An on-scene investigation revealed that there was no fuel in the right fuel tank. The fuel selector was found in the right tank position.
Factual narrative
On February 8, 1998, at 1749 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-38-112, N925IT, collided with a plant nursery after departure from runway 27 at Bob Lee Flight Strip Airport in Deland, Florida. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, the airplane had a sudden drop in RPM about 30 to 40 feet above the ground. He attempted a forced landing straight ahead. The airplane collided with a plant nursery.
The FAA investigator who examined the airplane stated there was no fuel in the right tank and 10 to 15 gallons in the left tank. The fuel selector was in the right tank position. The fuel contained no water or contamination. The FAA investigator stated there was three tablespoons of fuel in the gascolater and two tablespoons in the carburetor sump. The engine ran normally during testing when using fuel from the left tank.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N925IT
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-78A0297
- Airframe hours
- 5,840
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Spruce Creek Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 2, 1998
- Departed
- 1J6 · FL
- Destination
- 44J · Spruce Creek, FL
- Airport
- 1J6 · Bob Lee Flight Strip, runway 27, 3,300 × 72 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 326 total · 45 in this make and model · 242 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAB, 15 nm away