# NTSB MIA02LA025: Piper PA-24-250, N6688P, Evans, GA, November 20, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 20, 2001, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Evans, GA - Coordinates: 33.371944, -82 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3719&lon=-82.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53847 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53847/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA025 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management and failure switch to the other fuel tank which had fuel available prior to the engine ceasing to operate, which resulted in fuel starvation and damage to the airplane during an off-airport landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated that about 40 minutes into the flight, at an altitude of about 3,000 feet, all of a sudden, and without warning, the engine ceased operating. He said he performed the emergency procedures, but was unable to get the engine operating again, and he affected a forced landing at the edge of a wooded area. A witness stated that he was in a parking lot, and he saw the airplane, and heard it "cutting on and off", and "waving" back and forth, before it crashed. A detective with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office stated that the pilot told him that he ran out of fuel and tried to land in an open field, but ended up crashing on the bank of a private pond. According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene, the accident airplane's right wing had been destroyed, along with its associated fuel tank as a result of the impact, but the left wing had remained intact. The inspector further stated that the fuel tank in the left wing was found to be nearly full of fuel, and examination of fuel lines from the gascolator to the fuel pump, and from the fuel pump to the carburetor did not reveal any evidence of fuel. The NTSB conducted an operational test of the engine at Atlanta Air Salvage, Griffin, Georgia, and it functioned, exhibiting no evidence of preaccident failure or malfunction. In addition, a detailed examination and test of the airplane's carburetor revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On November 20, 2001, about 1030 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6688P, registered to and operated by, a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in a neighborhood in Evans, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received serious injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Anderson, South Carolina, the same day, about 0930. The pilot stated that about 40 minutes into the flight, while the airplane was at an altitude of about 3,000 feet, all of a sudden, and without warning, the engine ceased operating. He said he performed the emergency procedures, but was unable to get the engine operating again. At an altitude of 2,200 feet, he said it became necessary to select an emergency landing spot, so he concentrated on flying the airplane, and affected a forced landing at the edge of a wooded area. A witness stated that he was in a parking lot, and he saw the airplane, and heard it "cutting on and off", and "waving back and forth", before it crashed. In addition, a detective with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office stated that when he responded to the scene, emergency personnel were helping the pilot out of the accident airplane, and the pilot stated to him that he ran out of fuel and tried to land in an open field, but ended up crashing on the bank of a private pond. Rescue personnel who responded to the accident stated that they found no evidence of fuel spillage at the accident scene, and added that when they first responded they heard a "humming" sound coming from the airplane wreckage, so a firefighter pulled a 50-Ampere circuit breaker and the "humming" sound ceased. In addition, rescue personnel said they also turned the airplane's "key switch" to the off position, and moved the fuel selector control from the "left" position to the "off" position. An FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene said that the accident airplane's right wing had been destroyed as a result of the impact, but the left wing had remained intact, and that its associated fuel tank was found to be nearly full of fuel. The inspector further stated that there was no evidence of any fuel spillage in the area of the right fuel tank which had been destroyed. Examination of the engine, to include the fuel lines from the gascolator to the fuel pump, and from the fuel pump to the carburetor did not reveal any evidence of fuel. The NTSB conducted an operational test of the engine at Atlanta Air Salvage, Griffin, Georgia, and it functioned, exhibiting no evidence of preaccident failure or malfunction. In addition, a detailed examination and test of the airplane's carburetor revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6688P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6688P-2002-05-13), registration cancelled 2002-05-13, S/N 24-1329, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1329 - Airframe hours: 3660 - Engines: Avco Lycoming O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John J. Davis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 5, 2001, 5 hours before - Departed: AND, Anderson, SC - Destination: AGS, Agusta, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 25, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 350 total, 272 in this make and model, 308 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: AGS, 10 nm away 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.