- Date
- September 27, 2011, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Montgomery, NY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6800WPiper PA-28-140
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Fuel starvation
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report January 18, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110927022909A
- Case key
- 81921
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
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilots’ inadequate fuel management.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the certified flight instructor, he and the student pilot/owner had been performing takeoffs and landings for about 1 hour with the left fuel tank selected; they then switched the fuel selector valve to the right fuel tank before performing an engine run-up. During the takeoff climb, about 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost all power. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and attempted to land in a clearing. During the landing flare, the right wing impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the left fuel tank was full of fuel; however, the right fuel tank, carburetor, and electric fuel pump were devoid of fuel. No other preimpact anomalies were noted.
Factual narrative
According to the certificated flight instructor, he and the student pilot/owner had been performing takeoffs and landings for about one hour with the left fuel tank selected when they switched the fuel selector valve to the right fuel tank and performed a "runup." During the takeoff climb, approximately 300 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane from the student pilot/owner and attempted to land in a clearing. During the landing flare the right wing impacted a tree resulting in substantial damage to the wing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector that responded to the accident location examined the airplane and the engine. He noted that the left fuel tank was full of fuel, the right fuel tank, carburetor, and electric fuel pump were devoid of fuel and no other preimpact anomalies were noted.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6800W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-20934
- Airframe hours
- 1,882
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 12, 2011
- Departed
- MGJ · Montgomery, NY
- Destination
- MGJ · Montgomery, NY
- Airport
- MGJ · Orange County Airport, runway 26, 3,664 × 100 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 26, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,250 total · 225 in this make and model · 2,820 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 27, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 30 total · 30 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- MGJ
Docket · 9
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 30, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.