# NTSB FTW95LA327: Piper PA-23-250, N76SR, Monroe, LA, August 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1995, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Monroe, LA - Coordinates: 32.509315, -92.079414 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5093&lon=-92.0794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA327 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19523/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA327 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW THE PUBLISHED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR PROPELLER FEATHERING. FACTORS WERE THE FENCE AND THE TREES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - 1 engine (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - propeller feathering - not performed, pilot in command - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - fence (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis DURING THE DESCENT TO 3,000 FEET MSL, THE PILOT SWITCHED THE FUEL TANKS FROM THE OUTBOARD TO THE INBOARD TANKS; HOWEVER, HE 'DID NOT CONFIRM THEY WERE IN THE INBOARD POSITION.' A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE PILOT DID NOT 'FEATHER THE PROPELLER' AND ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A GOLF COURSE. THE NOSE GEAR STRUCK A FENCE AND THE LEFT WING HIT A TREE. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 1995, at 1600 central daylight time, a Piper PA-23- 250, N76SR, collided with a fence during a forced landing near Monroe, Louisiana. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was being operated by McMahan Aviation, Inc., of Monroe, Louisiana, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The personal cross country flight was on an IFR flight plan with visual meteorological conditions prevailing throughout the area. On the enclosed Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot reported that the flight was cleared to descend from 7,000 feet MSL to 3,000 feet MSL for an approach to Monroe, Louisiana. During the descent, the fuel tanks were "switched from outboard to inboard"; however, the pilot "did not confirm they were in the inboard position" and the "lever possibly was in the center position" which is "OFF." Upon reaching 3,000 feet MSL, the right engine "began to surge" and then "quit." The pilot attempted to restart the engine; however, it would not restart, and the pilot stated that he elected not to feaather the propeller. A forced landing to a golf course was initiated. During the landing flare/touchdown, the nose gear struck a metal fence. The left wing struck a tree during the landing roll and the airplane came to rest on the golf course. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and found the fuel selectors on the outboard tanks. The pilot stated that following the accident, he returned to the airplane and moved the fuel selectors to the outboard tanks. The outboard tanks did not contain fuel and the inboard tanks were full. Neither propeller was feathered and the left propeller exhibited torsional twisting. Structural damage occurred to the fuselage, nose gear, left main gear, and the left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N76SR), registered now, S/N 27-7304976, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-7304976 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mcmahan Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 30, 1995, 8 hours before - Departed: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR - Destination: MLU - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 15 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MLU, 10 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 19950803049419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950803049419A), Aug 3, 1995: Piper PA23250, Monroe, LA, No damage. (-16) In an interview with the pilot, he reported that after he began a descent from 7,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) to a lower altitude, the aircraft's no. 2… 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.