- Date
- August 15, 1992, 19:58 local (23:58 UTC)
- Place
- Owosso, MI
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5749PPiper PA-24-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920815031499A
- Case key
- 15519
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 starvation which resulted from the pilot having selected the wrong fuel tank. Factors related to the accident were poor aircraft preflight and the unreliable fuel quantity gauges.
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
A total loss of engine power was experienced on short final approach. The pilot attempted to land on a highway as there were trees and houses along the approach to the airport. The airplane contacted powerlines along the road and descended to impact with the terrain. Post accident inspection revealed the right fuel tank (tank which was selected) was empty and the left fuel tank was 1/2 full. The fuel quantity indicators showed the right tank full and the left tank just above empty.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5749P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-824
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-A1A5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert M. Gute
- Registered owner
- Robert M. Gute
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 29, 1992 · 1 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 560 total · 60 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 14 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FNT, 17 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.