# NTSB MIA91IA201: Piper PA-28-140, N9558W, Clearwater, FL, August 21, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1991, 17:46 local (21:46 UTC)
- Place: Clearwater, FL
- Location: 27.9794° N, 82.7713° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clearwater, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9794&lon=-82.7713&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32775
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91IA201
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32775/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91IA201

## Probable cause

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTOR POSITION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE.

## 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 - base leg/base to final
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Ditching, descent - emergency

## Analysis

DURING THE BASE LEG FOR A FULL STOP LANDING, THE ENG EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.  THE PLT REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR BUT THE ENG DID NOT START.  UNABLE TO LAND AT THE ARPT, HE DITCHED THE ACFT WHICH NOSED OVER AFTER IMPACT.  THE ACFT WAS RECOVERED & THE LT FUEL TANK, WHICH WAS FULL, WAS DRAINED & FOUND TO CONTAIN 5-10 GALS OF FUEL.  THE REMAINDER WAS WATER.  THE RT FUEL TANK, ALSO FULL, WAS DRAINED & FOUND TO CONTAIN WATER.  NO FUEL WAS PRESENT.  THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LT TANK.  THE ENG WAS EXAMINED WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9558W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9558W-1992-02-24), registration cancelled 1992-02-24, S/N 2822995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-22995
- Airframe hours: 2091
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Tropicair Pilots Club
- Registered owner: Toye, Bradley K.
- Last inspection: Annual, September 27, 1990, 70 hours before
- Airport: PIE, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, runway 27, 5,165 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 54 total, 16 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 1 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).

- [Incident 19910821035709I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910821035709I), Aug 21, 1991: Piper PA28140, St Petersburg-C, FL, Minor damage. Practicing touch and go landings lost power base leg,ditched aircraft in bay short of runway.

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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