- Date
- August 7, 1996, 13:22 local (18:22 UTC)
- Place
- Flushing, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7245DPiper PA-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960807021319A
- Case key
- 10344
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 caused by the failure of the pilot to select a fuel tank with fuel remaining.
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 flipped over during a forced landing in a bean field, following a total loss of engine power. Postflight examination revealed that the right wing tank was full of fuel, and the left wing tank was empty. The fuel valve selector was found selected to the left wing tank. Both wing tanks use vented fuel caps, and are routed to a single fuel valve. During a engine run up following the accident no abnormalities with the airplane's engine were noted.
Factual narrative
On August 7, 1996, at 1230 eastern standard time (est), a Piper PA-22, N7245D, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing, following a total loss of engine power. The airplane landed in a bean field near Flushing, Michigan, and flipped over during the landing. The student pilot was not injured in the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been filed.
Following the accident the airplane was examined by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The wing flaps were found extended. The carburetor heat was found in the off position. The mixture and primer were found in. The fuel valve selector was selected to the left wing tank. The right wing tank was found full of fuel, the left wing tank was empty.
The airplane's fuel system is made up by three separate fuel tanks. Two eighteen gallon wing tanks, and a eight gallon fuselage auxiliary tank. The PA-22 owners manual displays both wing fuel caps as being vented fuel caps. Both 18 gallon fuel tank fuel lines are routed to a single fuel valve.
A engine run up following the accident was conducted, and revealed no abnormalities with the airplane's engine.
The airplane's vertical stabilizer, rudder and elevators were crushed the left wing struts were buckled. The nose gear was buckled and had collapsed. One propeller blade was bent the other propeller blade was unremarkable.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7245D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-5071
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A1A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Farther John 77 Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 50G · Chesaning, MI
- Destination
- 3DA · MI
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
- 25
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 52 total · 11 in this make and model · 38 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 13 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FNT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.