- Date
- August 23, 2003, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Panama City, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N40PAPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Birmingham FSDO-09
- FAA report
- 20030823022009A
- Case key
- 57790
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 failure to follow the airplane manufacturer's recommendation to not use automobile fuel in the airplane resulting in deterioration of the fuel tank sealant, fuel starvation of the engine from fuel system contamination, and subsequent collision with trees during a force landing.
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
While maneuvering the airplane, the pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a dirt field, impacted with trees at the approach end of the field, and nosed into the ground. Fuel was found at the crash site, and the pilot told investigators that he had refueled the airplane 6 days before the accident with 93 octane automobile gas.The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who responded to the accident stated the aircraft was utilizing 93 octane automobile gasoline by the current owner. Particles of the sealant used in the wet wing of the airplane were found throughout the wing tanks, electric-driven fuel pump, and carburetor. Piper Aircraft Corporation service bulletin number 855, dated January 14, 1987, outlines the concerns with respect to the use of automotive type gasoline in Piper airplanes. In summary, the use of automotive fuels is prohibited in Piper Airplanes. A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report was not received.
Factual narrative
On August 23, 2003, about 1215 central daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N40PA, operated and owned by an individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, impacted with trees during a forced landing near Panama City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot reported no injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight had departed from the Panama City Airport, Panama City, Florida, earlier that day, at an unspecified time.
While maneuvering the airplane, the pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a dirt field, impacted with trees at the approach end of the field, and nosed into the ground. Fuel was found at the crash site, and the pilot told investigators that he had refueled the airplane 6 days before the accident with 93 octane automobile gas.
The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who responded to the accident stated the aircraft was utilizing 93 octane automobile gasoline by the current owner. Particles of the sealant used in the wet wing of the airplane were found throughout the wing tanks, electric-driven fuel pump, and carburetor.
Piper Aircraft Corporation service bulletin number 855, dated January 14, 1987, outlines the concerns with respect to the use of automotive type gasoline in Piper airplanes. In summary, the use of automotive fuels is prohibited in Piper Airplanes.
A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report was not received.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N40PA
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-78A0628
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2A, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PFN · Panama City, FL
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
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PFN
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.