- Date
- June 13, 1998, 16:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place
- Albion, MI
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4617PPiper PA-23-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 28, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980613013429A
- Case key
- 10915
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 pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation and his not refueling the airplane to avoid fuel exhaustion. Factors were the pilot's lack of certification, his not feathering the engine, and the trees.
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 twin engine airplane suffered a loss of right engine power in cruise flight about 10 minutes after takeoff.. The pilot, who held a student pilot certificate, said he was unable to maintain flight and a forced landing was initiated. On approach, the airplane impacted trees, departed controlled flight and impacted the terrain. A post accident fire ignited. The pilot told an FAA inspector that the loss of power was due to fuel exhaustion. An inspection of the airplane revealed that there was only unusable fuel remaining in the right wing. It was also found that the right engine propeller was not feathered.
Factual narrative
On June 13, 1998, at 1650 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N4617P, operated by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage from impact with trees, the terrain, and a post impact fire, during a forced landing 12 miles north of Albion, Michigan. The pilot received minor injuries, while his passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot said that the right engine suffered a loss of power, and he was attempting a forced landing in a field when the airplane impacted tree tops. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed Marshall, Michigan, about 1640.
The student pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the loss of right engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. He said that he was unable to maintain flight and initiated a forced landing.
A post accident examination of the airplane found that the left wing was destroyed by impact and a post accident fire. The right wing fuel tanks were intact and contained only unusable fuel. Both the right and left engine fuel selectors were found in the off position. The right propeller was not feathered.
Logbooks for the airplane and engines were examined where it was determined the most recent annual inspection was conducted on October 18, 1996.
Several attempts were made to contact the pilot and have him complete an NTSB Form 6120.1/2 "Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report." On contacting the Calhoun County (MI), Sheriff's Department on September 11, 1998, it was determined the pilot died on September 5, 1998. The cause of his death was not related to the airplane accident according the Calhoun County (MI) Sheriff's Department.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4617P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-23-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 27-131
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-A1B5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Myer J. Franklin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 18, 1996
- Departed
- RMY · Marshall, 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
- 56
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BTL, 24 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.