# NTSB CHI94LA265: Piper PA-32-300, N4854T, Richmond, MO, August 3, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1994, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Richmond, MO - Coordinates: 39.270458, -93.970764 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2705&lon=-93.9708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9624/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA265 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, reason undetermined. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE STALLED ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND DURING THE FORCED LANDING. FAA INSPECTORS COULD FIND NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THEY DID FIND THAT THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR WAS HALF-WAY BETWEEN THE LEFT MAIN TANK AND THE LEFT TIP TANK. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 1994, at 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32- 300, N4854T, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power near Richmond, Missouri. The private pilot received minor injuries, one of the three passengers aboard the airplane also received minor injuries, the other two passengers received serious injuries. The business flight originated at the Trenton Municipal Airport, Trenton, Missouri, with an intended destination of Lee's Summit, Missouri. A VFR flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot stated the engine lost power while in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl. He attempted a restart without success. He said that in the process of trying to avoid some telephone lines on short final during the forced landing, the airplane stalled about 50 feet in the air, and hit the ground very hard. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who inspected the airplane and engine reported there was no fuel in the fuel distribution manifold (spider). The engine examination found no mechanical reason for malfunction. The fuel selector was positioned half-way between the left main fuel tank, and the left tip fuel tank. The fuel quantities found in the tanks were: Left main one-half full Left tip torn off airplane during landing Right main full Right tip empty ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4854T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4854T-2017-04-04), registration cancelled 2017-04-04, S/N 32-7240091, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7240091 - Airframe hours: 2748 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Howmedica Kansas City, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1994, 17 hours before - Departed: TRX, TRENTON, MO - Destination: K84, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 797 total, 512 in this make and model, 669 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 12 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MKC, 18 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 19940803048319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940803048319A), Aug 3, 1994: Piper PA32300T, Richmond, MO, Substantial damage. Lost power in cruise flight. Stalled 50 ft AGL on forced landing. Fuel selector between detentes. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.