# NTSB MIA93LA048: Piper PA-23, N1439P, Tampa, FL, January 6, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 6, 1993, 00:12 local (05:12 UTC)
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Location: 27.9465° N, 82.5900° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from TAMPA INTL (TPA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9465&lon=-82.5900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 10, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33216
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33216/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA048

## Probable cause

POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CFI RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - all engines
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE PVT-RATED STUDENT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING BEFORE THE FLT & WAS ADVISED THAT FOG WAS FORECAST TO EXIST AT THE DESTINATION AT THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL.  THE ESTIMATED TIME EN ROUTE WAS 3 HRS WITH 4 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD.  THE FLT DEPARTED AT 2027.  THE FLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS APPROACH & THE CFI LET THE STUDENT FLY PART OF THE APPROACH BUT TOOK CONTROL & PERFORMED A MISSED APPROACH AT MINIMUMS.  THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED FOR ANOTHER ILS APCH WHICH TERMINATED WITH A MISSED APCH.  THE FLT THEN REQUESTED CLEARANCE TO A NEARBY ARPT.  THE FLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS APCH, & WHEN IT WAS INBOUND ON THE FINAL APPROACH, THE TOWER CONTROLLER WAS ADVISED THAT AN ENGINE QUIT AND THEY WERE 'OUTTA FUEL.' THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN DITCHED NEAR A BRIDGE & ALL OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT SANK.  THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED 5 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT & THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED WHICH REVEALED THE LT TANK DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL. THE RT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 8 OUNCES OF FUEL.  THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 0012, APPROXIMATELY 3 HRS 45 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1439P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1439P-1993-10-20), registration cancelled 1993-10-20, S/N 23498 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23-498
- Airframe hours: 3095
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Coulson, Jeffrey A.
- Registered owner: Coulson, Jeffrey A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 20, 1992, 18 hours before
- Departed: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC
- Destination: PIE, ST. PETERSBURG, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TPA, Tampa International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,550 total, 200 in this make and model, 2,420 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TPA, 3 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 19930106000189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930106000189A), Jan 6, 1993: Piper PA23, Tampa, FL, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on approach to alternate after two missed at filed pie. Lacked suitable alternate and fuel reserve.

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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