# NTSB IAD80FID08: Piper PA-31, N77QC, Appomattox, VA, February 29, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: February 29, 1980
- Place: Appomattox, VA · APPOMATTOX, VA
- Location: 37.3587° N, 78.8264° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Appomattox, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3587&lon=-78.8264&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 19, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131754
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80FID08
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FID08

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0260  80/2/29    APPOMATTOX,VA       PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1030                    N77QC               PX-  0  0  1  AIR TAXI-PASSG            27, 3330 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1027 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NORFOLK,VA                  ROANOKE,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER ALIGNMENT/ADJUSTMENT
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- FUEL GAGES READ 1/8 FULL.TANKS EMPTY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77QC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77QC-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 31-511, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-300) (registry code 7103104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19800229004619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800229004619A), Feb 29, 1980: Piper PA31300, Appomattox, VA, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel en route. Crash landed in a pasture. Failed to ascertain sufficient fuel.

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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