- Date
- December 19, 1999, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Naples, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N8469PPiper PA-24-400
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 2, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19991219042039A
- Case key
- 48372
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 fuel management and selection of an empty fuel tank (auxiliary) on approach for landing. This resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, forced landing, and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.
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 pilot stated he was on approach for landing at the destination airport. He selected an empty fuel tank (auxiliary tank), experienced a total loss of engine power, and crashed during a forced landing.
Factual narrative
On December 19, 1999, at about 1220 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-400, N8469P, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on approach to Wings South Airpark (15X), Naples, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and passenger reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Atlanta, Georgia, about 3 hours 20 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated he cancelled IFR about 15 miles north of Naples, and continued VFR. He entered the traffic pattern for runway 36 at his destination airport, and had turned right base when the engine quit. The pilot stated, "It is my opinion that it was pilot error that caused power failure. I should of been on main tank but I switched to an empty aux. Tank."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8469P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-400
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 26-40
- Airframe hours
- 2,400
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-720-A1A, 400 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Joseph M. Amore
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 19, 1999 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- LSU · Atlanta, GA
- Destination
- 15X
- Flight plan
- VFR/IFR
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
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 977 total · 600 in this make and model · 977 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- APF, 9 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.