# NTSB MIA94LA122: Piper PA-23-250, N4857P, Margate, FL, April 16, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 1994, 13:23 local (17:23 UTC) - Place: Margate, FL - Coordinates: 26.250205, -80.210884 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2502&lon=-80.2109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37531 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37531/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA122 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO POSITION THE FUEL SELECTORS TO THE FULLEST TANK BEFORE LANDING RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - all engines - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - pole - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis WHILE DESCENDING TO LAND BOTH ENGINES FAILED DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT FOR A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A LIGHT POLE THEN THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST ADJACENT TO A HOUSE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE FUEL SELECTORS WERE POSITIONED TO THE INBOARD TANKS WHICH CONTAINED LESS THAN A TOTAL OF 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL. THE LEFT AND RIGHT OUTBOARD FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 9 AND 13 GALLONS RESPECTIVELY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT MOVE THE FUEL SELECTORS DURING THE FLIGHT. ## Factual narrative On April 16, 1994, about 1323 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N4857P, registered to Aero Flight Service, Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a residential area about 2 miles northwest of the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Margate, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida, about 1225. About 2 minutes after the initial contact with the Fort Lauderdale Executive Tower the pilot advised the tower of engine trouble (right engine) and requested a straight in approach to runway 13. The tower controller approved the request. At that time the flight was descending through 1900 feet. The tower controller asked the pilot in part to state fuel status and the pilot replied minimum fuel. About 4 minutes after the pilot first reported an engine malfunction the pilot advised that the flight was going in. During the emergency descent the left wing adjacent to the outboard fuel tank collided with a light pole about 9 feet from the base. The airplane then collided with the ground and came to rest adjacent to a house in a residential area. There was no post crash fire. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the left wing outboard fuel tank was separated and leaking fuel. The tank was drained which revealed that it contained about 9 gallons of fuel. The right wing outboard fuel tank which was intact was drained which revealed that it contained about 13 gallons of fuel. Both inboard fuel tanks were drained which revealed that they contained less than 1/2 gallon of fuel total. The fuel selectors were positioned to their respective inboard tanks and according to the pilot had not been moved during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4857P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4857P-2012-12-18), registration cancelled 2012-12-18, S/N 27-430, built 1961 (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 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-430 - Airframe hours: 3166 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aero Flight Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 1993, 37 hours before - Departed: LAL, LAKELAND, FL - Destination: FXE, FT LAUDERDALE, FL - Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 41 total, 15 in this make and model, 22 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 14 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FXE, 2 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 19940416007949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940416007949A), Apr 16, 1994: Piper PA23250, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. During approach to airport advised low fuel. Cleared direct. Both engine quit hit pole landing. Tanks selected empty 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.