# NTSB BFO90LA030: Piper PA-32-260, N3484W, Dungannon, VA, February 24, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1990, 09:34 local (14:34 UTC)
- Place: Dungannon, VA
- Coordinates: 36.819831, -82.460029 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8198&lon=-82.4600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11582/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA030

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED, THE SUBSEQUENT LOW FUEL SUPPLY, AND THE AIRCRAFT'S EXCESSIVE AFT CENTER-OF-GRAVITY (CG).

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, maneuvering
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - aircraft weight and balance - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - residence

## Analysis

THE VFR PLT DEPARTED TULSA, OK, ON A FLT TO BRISTOL, TN, WITH A FULL LOAD OF FUEL. NO EN ROUTE STOPS WERE MADE. IN THE AREA OF BRISTOL, THE PLT CTCD TRI-CITY APCH CTL & REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO THE TRI-CITY ARPT. HOWEVER, THE ACFT'S ALT WAS LOW & RADAR CTC WITH APCH CTL WAS NOT MADE. THE PLT BELIEVED HE WAS SW OF THE ARPT, BUT ATLANTA ARTCC NOTED THE ACFT WAS 40 MI NW OF TRI-CITY. THE PLT WAS ADZD OF HIS PSN, BUT HE CONTD ON AN EASTERLY HDG. THE PSGRS NOTED TURBC, SNW SHOWERS & REDUCED VIS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLT ELECTED TO LND ON A STREET IN DUNGANNON, VA. SVRL WITNESSES NOTED AN INTERRUPTION OF ENG PWR BEFORE THE ACFT WAS LNDD. RPRTDLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, THEN BOUNCED & WENT TO THE LEFT OF THE STREET, HITTING THE PORCH OF A HOUSE. THOUGH AN INTERRUPTION OF ENG PWR WAS RPRTD, THE PROP BLADES HAD EVIDENCE OF ROTATIONAL DMG. THE FUEL SEL WAS FND PSND TO THE RGT OTBRD TANK; THE 2 RGT TANKS HAD ABT 1 QT OF FUEL REMAINING. CG OF THE ACFT WAS CALCULATED TO BE BEHIND THE AFT LIMIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3484W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3484W-1991-02-07), registration cancelled 1991-02-07, S/N 32362 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-260
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-362
- Airframe hours: 4585
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-4EB5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Teen Main Ministries, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 1989, 151 hours before
- Departed: RVS, TULSA, OK
- Destination: TRI, BRISTOL, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 393 total, 280 in this make and model, 334 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 22 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TRI, 21 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 19900224002859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900224002859A), Feb 24, 1990: Piper PA32260, Buchannon, VA, Destroyed. Flew into low ceiling,snow and turbulence. Ran tank dry. Landing on a street,hit house. Over gross weight.

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.

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