# NTSB BFO89LA080: Piper PA-28-180, N40892, Haymarket, VA, September 17, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1989, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Haymarket, VA
- Location: 38.8122° N, 77.6363° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Haymarket, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8122&lon=-77.6363&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11529
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89LA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11529/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA080

## Probable cause

IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION & LOSS OF ENGINE POWER; AND IMPROPER USE OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AFTER LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  THE PRESENCE OF HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) IN THE APPROACH PATH TO THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.

## Analysis

AFTER NEARLY 3 HRS OF FLT, THE ENG BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THE PLT APPLIED CARB HEAT, TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, AND MOVED THE MIXTURE TO RICH, BUT THE ENG LOST ALL POWER. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PASTURE; HOWEVER, BEFORE REACHING THE PASTURE, THE ACFT CONTACTED TREES & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK, WHICH CONTAINED APRX 1 PINT OF FUEL. THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL. DRG A POST-ACDNT TEST RUN, THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY. THE PLT WAS A FOREIGN NATIONAL FROM MOZAMBIQUE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40892](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40892-1990-09-07), registration cancelled 1990-09-07, S/N 287405074 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7405074
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Carolina Air Academy
- Registered owner: Carolina Air Academy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 15, 1989
- Departed: MWK, MT AIRY, NC
- Destination: GAI, GAITHERSBURG, MD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; private, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 114 total, 12 in this make and model, 88 as pilot in command, 93 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD, 12 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 19890917035149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890917035149A), Sep 17, 1989: Piper PA28180, Haymarket, VA, Substantial damage. Ran a tank dry, failed to switch to other full tank. Struck trees on power off landing. Pilot certificate pending.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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