- Date
- May 12, 1985, 15:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Pierce, FL
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N7315DPiper PA-22-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850512017029A
- Case key
- 31271
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
Prior to a flt from the Bahamas to west palm beach, FL, the plt noted a problem with the quick-drain for the left fuel tank. After landing in west palm beach, fuel was only added to the right tank since the plt anticipated replacing the left quick-drain. On the next flt to vero beach, FL, he was using fuel from the left tank, when the eng 'hesitated.'at that time, the left fuel gage was indicating under 1/4 full. The plt checked the mags & 'found the left mag was rough.' While comparing the mags & calling vero beach tower, the eng power 'fell to idle' when the acft was at an alt of about 1000 ft. thinking he had a mag problem, the plt continued switching mags & delayed switching the fuel selector. Subsequently, he made a forced landing on a sandy area where the right gear folded & the right elevator was damage. Only a few ounces of fuel was found in the left tank. A considerable amount of fuel was still remaining in the right fuel tank. Also, water & dirt were found in the right tank & about 1 ounce of water was in the fuel lines.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7315D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-5103
- Airframe hours
- 1,558
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William R. Hawn
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 9, 1984 · 83 hours before
- Departed
- PBI · West Palm Beach, FL
- Destination
- VRB · Vero Beach, FL
- Airport
- Unknown
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
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,402 total · 73 in this make and model · 13,067 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 82 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VRB
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7315D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.