- Date
- August 17, 1990, 14:34 local (18:34 UTC)
- Place
- Charleston, WV
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- CGBEGPiper PA-24-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 10, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 11610
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
Fuel exhaustion due to fatigue failure of a fuel line. Factors related to the accident were: lack of suitable terrain and obstructions (trees & utility pole) in the emergency landing area.
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
The plt rprtd he svcd the acft to the 50 gal level (bottom of filler necks) before depg on the 1st leg of the flt to ontario, Canada. According to him, the acft was about 14 mi from landing at Charleston, WV, when the eng lost power. He switched fuel tanks & the eng restarted. The plt rprtd that about 6 to 8 mins later, the eng lost power again & would not restart. Terrain in the area was hilly/mountainous. During an emerg lndg, the acft struck a tree, then impacted on a road & hit a utility pole before stopping. An investigation revealed fuel streaks along the left side of the fuselage, aft of the eng cowling. A further exam revealed the fuel pressure line, pn 21163-00, had failed inside the eng compartment. The line failed abt 2.5 inches from where it connected to the fuel pressure hose assembly. A metallurgical exam determined the line had failed from fatigue.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CGBEG
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-83
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David Mcelroy/Michael Freund
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- SAV · Savannah, GA
- Destination
- CRW · Charleston, WV
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- CRW · Yeager
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,307 total · 128 in this make and model · 1,208 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CRW