- Date
- September 17, 1993, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Madison, WI
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N823PJPiper PA-32-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 20, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930917035029A
- Case key
- 9318
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
the loose fuel selector handle/valve which resulted in an inability to properly switch fuel tanks.
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 airplane experienced a total loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. The fuel selector was found in the right outboard tank position, and the handle was described as very loose. There was no fuel in the right outboard tank, but it also had a small hole in it caused by the forced landing. There was fuel in the other three tanks. The engine started and ran when the fuel selector was positioned to another tank. The Operator's Handbook states 'fuel selector on fullest main tank' for takeoff.
Factual narrative
On September 17, 1993, at 1600 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N823PJ, sustained substantial damage in a forced landing, following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Morey Airport, Madison, Wisconsin. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane reported he found the fuel selector in the right outboard tank detent position, and that the selector handle was very loose. The left main and the left outboard tanks were one- third full. The right main was seven-eighths full. The right outboard was empty. There was a small hole in the right outboard tank as a result of the off-airport landing. The right outboard fuel gauge was placarded inoperative. The Piper Cherokee Six Operator's Handbook states the fuel selector should be on the "fullest main tank" for takeoff.
When the fuel selector was moved to another tank the engine started and ran.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N823PJ
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3240583
- Airframe hours
- 3,804
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-K1A5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Northwest Flyers, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Three B'S Aero, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 28, 1993 · 90 hours before
- Destination
- 06C · Schaumburg, IL
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
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,000 total · 36 in this make and model · 1,000 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSN, 10 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.
Other investigations on N823PJ · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.