# NTSB MIA89LA013: Piper PA-23-250, N6877Y, Tupelo, MS, October 21, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 20, 1988, 20:30 local (Oct 21, 1988, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Tupelo, MS
- Coordinates: 34.259189, -88.730026 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2592&lon=-88.7300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 8, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32346
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32346/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA013

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fuselage,seat - improper (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,modification - improper (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip inadequate,visual restriction, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE OPERATOR HAD APPLIED FOR AN ON-DEMAND/AIR TAXI CERT, BUT HAD NOT OBTAINED APPROVAL. AFTER LVL-OFF ON A FLT TO CARRY CANCELED CHECKS, THE PLT ELECTED TO USE THE REMAINING FUEL FM THE INBD TANKS. HE STATED THAT SOON THEREAFTER, THE LEFT ENG BGN RUNNING ROUGH, SO HE SELECTED THE OTBD MAIN 'ON THE LEFT SIDE WITH THE BOOST PUMP ON AND NOTHING HAPPENED.'   HESAID HE THEN PSND THE L FUEL SELECTOR TO THE INBD TANK & NORMAL ENG OPN RETURNED, MOMENTARILY. AN IDENTICAL SCENARIO OCCURRED ON THE RGT SIDE. AFTER A DUAL PWR LOSS, THE PLT TRIED TO RTRN BACK TO THE DEP ARPT, BUT WAS UNABLE. HE LNDD IN A FIELD, BUT THE ACFT HIT TREES BEFORE STOPPING. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE INBD TANKS WERE EMPTY, BUT THE OTBD TANKS WERE FULL OF FUEL. THE PSN OF THE FUEL SELECTORS (WHEN THE ENGS LOST POWER) WAS NOT DETERMINED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE FUEL SELECTOR PANEL WAS ON THE FLOOR BTN THE PLT & COPLT SEATS. DUE TO RE-UPHOLSTER-ING OF THE SEATS, THE PLT COULD NOT SEE THE PANEL UNLESS HE PULLED THE SEAT CUSHIONS APART.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6877Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6877Y-2013-07-23), registration cancelled 2013-07-23, S/N 27-4224, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27-4224
- Airframe hours: 3293
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Bannerman, Bemp
- Registered owner: D. Bannerman & Co
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1988, 71 hours before
- Departed: TUP, TUPELO, MS
- Destination: MEM, MEMPHIS, TN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 7,000 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUP, 5 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19881020049519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881020049519A), Oct 20, 1988: Piper PA23250, Tupelo, MS, Substantial damage. Both engines quit en route. Crash landed. Fuel selectors on empty aux tanks mains full. Had applied for atco license

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.

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