# NTSB MIA90LA089: Piper PA-30, N7114Y, Margate, FL, March 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 1990, 13:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place: Margate, FL
- Coordinates: 26.250801, -80.210327 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2508&lon=-80.2103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32637
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90LA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32637/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA089

## Probable cause

LOSS OF POWER IN BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW THE FLIGHT MANUAL TO ENSURE THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED TO CAPACITY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - all engines
  - aircraft preflight - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight manuals - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - pole

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT THE NOSE GEAR STRUT WAS 'SLIGHTLY EXTENDED' WHEN THE FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF, WHICH WAS VERIFIED BY VISUAL INSPECTION & THE FUEL GAUGES. THE FLT DEPARTED TO A PVT ARPT TO ENPLANE 2 PAX THEN DEPARTED & LANDED AT AN ARPT WHERE THE INTL VFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLT DEPARTED & EN ROUTE WAS UNEVENTFUL BUT DURING THE EXTENDED DOWNWIND LEG, BOTH ENG'S QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON A CANAL, THE RT WING COLLIDED WITH AN OBJECT. THE OWNERS HANDBOOK STATES THAT THE LANDING GEAR STRUTS SHOULD BE EXTENDED 2 3/4 INCHES UNDER STATIC LOAD. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT LOCATED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MAIN FUEL TANK FILLER COVER DOOR WAS A PLACARD WHICH STATES THAT 'FILLING INSTRUCTIONS TO OBTAIN MAXIMUM CAPACITY, ACFT MUST BE APRX LEVEL WITH LANDING GEARS EQUALLY EXTENDED. NONVENTED FUEL CAP TIGHTENED SECURELY.' THE PLT FURTHER STATED THAT HE ESTIMATES THAT THE FUEL CAPACITY WAS 7.7 GALLONS SHORT WHEN THE FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7114Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7114Y), registered now, S/N 30-135, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-135
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bernaby, Frank A.
- Departed: MDPP, PUERTO PLATA, OF
- Destination: FXE, FT LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: FXE, Ft Lauderdale Executive, runway 13, 3,999 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 314 total, 78 in this make and model, 260 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: FXE, 4 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 19900315017899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900315017899A), Mar 15, 1990: Piper PA30, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on over-water flight near destination. Landed on canal bank,on rollout wing struck an object.

## Other investigations on N7114Y (1)

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.

- [NTSB UNK65X0501](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0501), Oct 31, 1964: Piper PA30 (N7114Y), Little Rock, AR, substantial damage

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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