- Date
- May 29, 1983, 11:51 local (15:51 UTC)
- Place
- Lake Butler, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N43499Piper PA-32-260
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830529021689A
- Case key
- 30783
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
At 0953 EDT, the plt departed on an IFR flt with full fuel tanks. The left main fuel tank was used for aprx 1 hr, then the right main was selected. Just before starting a descent, while still using the right main tank, the eng quit. The plt switched fuel tanks & tried to restart the eng, but was unsuccessful. VFR conditions were encountered at 1800 ft & a small clearing (most suitable area) was selected for a landing. As the plt unlocked the cabin door, the right front passenger unlocked her seatbelt. The acft was heading for a house beyond the clearing, so the plt deliberately hit a tree with the left wing. The passenger, who unlocked her seat belt, was seriously injured. An exam revealed a rudder connector in the right vent line had deteriorated & had blocked the vent & the rudder flapper in the vented fuel cap wasstuck. The maint facility, the owner was using, had outdated manuals which did not call for required inspection of vent hoses. Fuel selector found on r main position, plt unsure wher/how long she positioned selector during atmtd eng restart
Aircraft
- Registration
- N43499
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7400044
- Airframe hours
- 3,873
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-E4B5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Marla Lynn Galloway
- Registered owner
- Augusta Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 6, 1983 · 59 hours before
- Departed
- DNL · Augusta, GA
- Destination
- GNV · Gainesville
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 354 total · 3 in this make and model · 288 as pilot in command · 83 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
- Wind
- 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GNV, 20 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.