# NTSB MIA96LA141: Piper PA-28-161, N9239B, Tallahassee, FL, May 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1996, 10:09 local (14:09 UTC) - Place: Tallahassee, FL - Coordinates: 30.389459, -84.510765 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3895&lon=-84.5108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38019 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38019/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA141 ## Probable cause the pilot's mismanagement of fuel, by failing to reposition the fuel selector to the left tank after fuel was used from the right tank, which resulted in fuel starvation, loss of engine power, and a forced landing. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing. ## 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 - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis After about 2 hours of flight time, the pilot was descending from about 1500' to about 1200' to remain in VFR conditions, when the engine lost power. Attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and he was forced to land in a wooded area, where the airplane was damaged. The pilot reported that he had positioned the fuel selector to the right tank before flight and had not repositioned it until the loss of power occurred. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing fuel tank was nearly full and that the right wing fuel tank contained less than 6 ounces of fuel. Also, the fuel line to the carburetor was dry, and the gascolator was drained and found to contain only 10 cc's of fuel. No fuel leakage was noted from the right wing fuel tank. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 1996, about 1009 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N9239B, registered to and operated by Flight Safety International, Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing about 22 nautical miles east-southeast of the Tallahassee Regional Airport, Tallahassee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed and activated for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at 0805 from the Vero Beach Municipal Airport, Vero Beach, Florida. The pilot stated that while descending from 1,500 to 1,200 feet mean sea level to maintain VFR conditions, the engine experienced total loss of power. He executed the emergency procedures checklist but engine power was not restored. He executed a forced landing in a wooded area and the airplane came to rest upright resting against small trees. He further stated that the fuel selector was positioned to the "right" position from engine start to the time of the loss of power. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing fuel tank was nearly full and the right wing fuel tank was found to contain less than 6 ounces of fuel. No signs of fuel leakage was noted from the right wing fuel tank. Additionally, the fuel line to the carburetor was found to be dry and the gascolator was drained and found to contain only 10 cc's of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9239B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9239B-2005-02-18), registration cancelled 2005-02-18, S/N 2841232, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2841232 - Airframe hours: 4141 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flight Safety International - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 15, 1996, 7 hours before - Departed: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL - Destination: TLH, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TLH, Tallahassee Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total, 100 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 22 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 19960516010729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960516010729A), May 16, 1996: Piper PA28161, Tallahassee, FL, Substantial damage. Lost power on descent. Landed in trees. Fuel selector on empty tank, other tank was full. 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.