# NTSB ATL99LA037: Piper PA-24-250, N7295P, Colbert, GA, January 2, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 2, 1999, 16:01 local (21:01 UTC) - Place: Colbert, GA - Coordinates: 34.030509, -83.209434 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0305&lon=-83.2094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45508/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA037 ## Probable cause Inadequate planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion due to an inadequate supply of fuel. ## 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 - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - undetermined (contributing factor) ## Analysis The preflight inspection of the fuel tanks by the pilot revealed the tanks were filled to the bottom of the filler neck, which the pilot believed was appropriately full. After starting the engine, fuel began leaking from the fuel sump drain hose. The pilot operated the spring loaded valve handle inside the airplane which apparently stopped the leak. Shortly after departing, the engine began running rough upon which the pilot began a deviation to another airport. During this time, the engine began running smoothly whereupon the pilot continued to his initial destination. During descent, the engine began running rough and the pilot decided the tanks had been exhausted. The pilot performed a forced landing causing substantial damage. The airplane cruising endurance based on 75% power and 90 gallons of fuel on board is 5.4 hours. However, the usable fuel capacity on this airplane when the fuel tanks are filled to the bottom of the filler necks is approximately 80 gallons. The actual flight time of this aircraft was 5.55 hours. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane noted only residual fuel was found in the selector valve and no leaks were found in the fuel system. ## Factual narrative On January 2, 1999, about 1601Eastern Standard Time, a Piper PA-24-250, N7295P, collided with an unknown object during a forced landing near Colbert, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the owner under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site and an IFR flight plan was filed for the personal flight. There were no injuries to the commercial pilot and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated at Allaire Airport in Belmar, NJ, at 1028 the same day destined for the Gwinnett County Airport, Lawrenceville, Georgia. According to the pilot, the visual preflight inspection of the aircraft fuel tanks revealed that both tanks were filled to the bottom of the filler neck which the pilot believed was appropriately full (see attached flight manual). After starting the engine, fuel began leaking from the fuel sump drain hose. The pilot operated the spring loaded valve handle inside the airplane which apparently stopped the leak. No fuel was witnessed leaking from the drain hose thereafter. The pilot had estimated the flight would take close to five hours with anticipated head winds. Shortly after departing, according to the pilot, the engine began running rough upon which he began a deviation to another airport. During this time, the engine began running smoothly whereupon the pilot continued to his initial destination. According to the pilot, after an uneventful five hours of flight, during descent, the engine began running rough. The pilot stated, he decided the tanks had been exhausted and immediately asked Air Traffic Control for help to the nearest airport located in Athens, Georgia. After descending through the clouds at 600 feet, the pilot lowered the landing gear and applied full flaps. The airplane was landed on a wet and slightly downhill road. The pilot stated that the right wing hit something before the airplane settled over a drainage ditch along the side of the road (see attached Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report). The following airplane endurance approximations are based on data obtained in the Piper Airplane PA-24-250 Aircraft Information Manual: The airplane cruising endurance based on 75% power and 90 gallons of fuel on board is 5.4 hours. Note, this cruising range figure includes 45 minutes fuel reserve plus allowance for fuel used during taxi, takeoff, climb, and cruise at the stated power. The usable fuel capacity on this airplane when the fuel tanks are filled to the top of the filler necks is 90 gallons, however when the tanks are filled to the bottom of the filler necks, the approximated quantity of usable fuel is 80 gallons. The actual flight time of this aircraft was 5.55 hours. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane, four feet of the main right wing was torn off, the main landing gear was broken off, the left horizontal stabilizer was bent, and one propeller blade was bent. The inspector also noted that only residual fuel was found in the selector valve and no leaks were found in the fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7295P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7295P-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N 24-2474, built 1961 (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: 24-2474 - Airframe hours: 5980 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joseph J. Friend - Registered owner: 95 Poppa Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 1998, 40 hours before - Departed: BLM, ALLAIRE, NJ - Destination: LZU, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AHN, Athens/Ben Epps Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,478 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,376 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 12 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AHN, 8 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 19990102000159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990102000159A), Jan 2, 1999: Piper PA24, Colbert, GA, Destroyed. Pilot advised that he had a rough running engine and was declaring an emergency, attempted to land at ahn but landed on a hwy (childers rd) approx 8 miles east… 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.