# NTSB FTW89LA118: Piper PA-601B, N601MF, Cleveland, TX, June 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1989, 03:00 local (08:00 UTC)
- Place: Cleveland, TX
- Coordinates: 30.339603, -95.069259 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3396&lon=-95.0693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22884
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22884/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA118

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, DUE TO FUEL STARVATION BECAUSE THE PLT MISJUDGED HIS FUEL SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION OF FUEL PER TANKS, AND AS A RESULT MISMANAGED THE SUPPLY REMAINING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,aeronautical light beacon(obst) - unavailable (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AIRPLANE WAS ON A REGULAR NIGHT PART 135 FLIGHT AND WAS 17 MILES FROM DESTINATION WHEN ONE ENGINE STARTED TO SURGE AND LOST POWER. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND SAID HE WAS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. ATC VECTORED AIRPLANE TO CLOSEST AIRPORT BUT AIRPORT DID NOT HAVE BEACON LIGHTED AND PILOT WAS LOW OVER AIRPORT BEFORE HE SAW IT. THEN THE OTHER ENGINE SURGED AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING OFF THE AIRPORT IN HEAVY UNDERBRUSH AND ROUGH TERRAIN. INSPECTION REVEALED AIRPLANE HAD 23 GALLONS OF FUEL IN RIGHT WING, 3 GALLONS IN FUSELAGE TANK, AND ZERO FUEL IN LEFT TANK. PLT SAID AFTER THE ACC HE DECIDED NOT TO CROSS FEED BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THE FUSELAGE TANK HAD ENOUGH FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N601MF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N601MF-2014-08-28), registration cancelled 2014-08-28, S/N 6108388162152 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-601B
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 601](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-601) (registry code 7106010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6108388162
- Airframe hours: 2056
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Conroe Aviation Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 14, 1989, 58 hours before
- Departed: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA
- Destination: CXO, CONROE, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 6R3, Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,624 total, 30 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 322 in the last 90 days, 78 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 120° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19890626017619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890626017619A), Jun 26, 1989: Piper PA60601, Cleveland, TX, Substantial damage. Both engines failed over airport. Crashed off airport in brush.

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.

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