# NTSB MIA98LA211: Piper PA-25-235, N8807L, Panama City Bch, FL, July 26, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 1998, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Panama City Bch, FL - Coordinates: 30.199193, -85.790534 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1992&lon=-85.7905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43528 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43528/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA211 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate inflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. ## Analysis During the second banner tow flight of the day while flying at 800 feet msl, the engine sputtered then quit due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated a descent for a forced landing during which, engine power was restored momentarily then the engine quit again The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a landing on a golf course and during the landing roll on a fairway, the airplane collided with a tree. The airplane then yawed 180 degrees, became airborne, and collided with a tree 15-feet agl. Post crash examination of the fuel tank and gascolator revealed no fuel. The fuel tank was intact and testing of the fuel gauge revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 1998, about 1400 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N8807L, registered to Aerial Ads of the Southeast, collided with trees during a forced landing on a golf course near Panama City Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 banner tow flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The flight originated about 1 hour 30 minutes earlier. The pilot stated that during the second banner tow flight of the day while flying at 800 feet msl over the beach, the engine sputtered then quit. He initiated a descent for a forced landing during which the engine responded momentarily then quit again. He maneuvered the airplane towards a golf course fairway due to congestion on a nearby road and dropped the banner. After touchdown on the fairway during the landing roll, the left wing collided with a tree causing the airplane to yaw to the left 180 degrees. The airplane then became airborne momentarily, collided with a tree about 15 feet agl, and came to rest in a nose low attitude resting against the downslope of an embankment to a pond. According to the individual who assisted with the recovery of the airplane, the fuel tank was not damaged and did not contain any fuel. Also, no fuel was found in the fuel gascolator and the carburetor was separated due to impact damage. No fuel was noted on the water adjacent to the resting point of the airplane. According to the operator, after recovery of the airplane, the fuel tank was filled with water then drained 5 gallons at a time. The fuel gauge was determined to move with each decrease in fuel quantity. The fuel tank was also removed from the airplane and inspected internally with no defects noted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8807L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8807L-2005-02-16), registration cancelled 2005-02-16, S/N 25-5304, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-5304 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Aerial Ads, Inc. - Registered owner: Aerial Ads Of The Southeast - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 25, 1998, 5 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,521 total, 31 in this make and model, 254 in the last 90 days, 126 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PFN ## 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 19980726017739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980726017739A), Jul 26, 1998: Piper PA25235, Panama City Bea, FL, Substantial damage. Banner towing operation, acft was heading back to banner strip and lost power, came to rest in trees in inverted position, pilot sustained minor inj. (-23)… ## Other investigations on N8807L (2) 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 CHI88DEE06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DEE06), Jul 17, 1988: Piper PA-25 (N8807L), Chebanse, IL, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI73FEV08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEV08), Aug 23, 1972: Piper PA-25 (N8807L), Browns, IL, 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.