# NTSB MIA96LA008: Piper PA-28R-180, N3250R, Covington, GA, October 13, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 1995, 15:37 local (19:37 UTC) - Place: Covington, GA - Location: 33.6054° N, 83.8466° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Covington, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6054&lon=-83.8466&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 22, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37931 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37931/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA008 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to divert to an alternate airport after recognizing a low fuel state existed and his delay to declare an emergency with ATC. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - emergency procedure - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - flight to new destination - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven - terrain condition - roadway/highway - Gear collapsed, emergency landing - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The flight departed with less than full fuel due to weight and balance considerations. En route, the pilot recognized a fuel shortage condition existed while the flight was near an airport with an ILS approach. The flight continued, and the pilot advised that the frequency congestion increased and ATC control was transferred to several sectors. The pilot then declared minimum fuel to the controller after he was advised that the flight was 50 miles from the planned destination. The controller vectored the flight to a nearby airport with an instrument approach, and while descending toward that airport, the engine sputtered momentarily then regained power when the fuel selector was positioned to the opposite tank. The pilot then declared an emergency and the flight was vectored direct toward the airport. After descending below the base of the clouds, the engine again sputtered. The pilot landed the airplane in a field with uneven terrain. It collided with an elevated gravel road, separating the nose gear, and became airborne. The airplane touched down again and the left main landing gear collapsed. Postcrash examination revealed that the fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank which was found to contain 3.5 gallons of fuel. The left wing fuel tank was empty. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 1995, about 1537 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N3250R, registered to Southwest Florida Air, Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing about 4 1/2 miles north of the Covington Municipal Airport, Covington, Georgia. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The commercial-rated pilot, and three passengers were not injured. The flight originated about 1213, from the Clearwater Air Park, Clearwater, Florida. The pilot stated that before takeoff the fuel tanks were not filled due to weight and balance considerations. While en route being vectored off airway he recognized a fuel shortage condition existed. The airplane was near an airport that has an ILS approach with decision height of 200 feet above ground level for category 1 aircraft. The pilot stated that the frequency congestion increased and Air Traffic Control (ATC) was transferred to several approach control sectors. The flight continued toward the destination then he declared minimum fuel to the controller after he was advised that the flight was about 50 miles from the destination. About that time the airplane was 28 nautical miles north-northwest of an airport that has an ILS approach and about 30 miles due south of the Covington Municipal Airport. The pilot stated that he requested a vector to the nearest airport with an instrument approach. The controller vectored the flight toward the Covington Municipal Airport after he was advised by the pilot that he was in possession of the published instrument approach procedures for the airport. While descending, the pilot stated that the engine sputtered momentarily then regained power after he repositioned the fuel selector to the opposite tank. The pilot stated he then declared an emergency and the flight was given a vector direct toward the Covington Airport. The flight descended through clouds and after emerging from the bases about 300-400 feet above ground level, the airport was not in sight. He initiated a descent for a forced landing and after selecting a field, the engine again sputtered. The pilot landed the airplane in a field with uneven terrain and tall wet grass. Unable to stop the airplane it became airborne after contacting an elevated gravel road which caused the nose landing gear to separate. The airplane then touched down and came to rest upright about 180 degrees from the initial heading with the left main landing gear collapsed. The right wing fuel tank was drained and found to contain about 3.5 gallons of fuel. The left wing fuel tank did not contain fuel. The fuel selector was found positioned to the right wing fuel tank and according to the engine tachometer, the airplane had been operated for 3 hours 24 minutes since fuel was added to the fuel tanks before takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3250R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3250R-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 28R31251, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-31251 - Airframe hours: 6234 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southwest Florida Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 1995, 30 hours before - Departed: CLW, CLEARWATER, FL - Destination: PDK, ATLANTA, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 9A1, Covington Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 325 total, 10 in this make and model, 226 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PDK, 25 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 19951013035809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951013035809A), Oct 13, 1995: Piper PA28R180, Covington, GA, Substantial damage. Low fuel on top. Vectored to nearby airport. Broke out but fuel ran out. Landed rough area. Collapsed landing gear. ## Other investigations on N3250R (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 LAX71FUJ92](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71FUJ92), May 19, 1971: Piper PA-28R (N3250R), Laveen, AZ, 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. --- 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.