# NTSB MIA99LA264: Piper PA-28-161, N4300S, Covington, GA, September 23, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 1999, 16:45 local (20:45 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: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47447 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47447/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA264 ## Probable cause the pilot's decision to take off from unsuitable terrain, which resulted in a collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot ran out of fuel and performed a forced landing in a cow pasture. The pilot obtained 9 gallons of 100LL fuel, refueled the airplane, and then taxied from the cow pasture to a 1,500-ft dirt road. The pilot attempted to take off on the dirt road, but aborted the takeoff when it looked like he was not going to make it. During the aborted takeoff the airplane's right wing collided with a tree. ## Factual narrative On September 23, 1999, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161 , N4300S, registered to Air Orlando Inc., crashed after the private-rated pilot aborted a takeoff from a cow pasture, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. There were no injuries, and the flight originated from Orlando Executive Airport the same day, about 0955. The pilot stated that he ran out of fuel and made a forced landing in a cow pasture. The pilot further stated that after getting 9 gallons of 100LL fuel, refueling the airplane, and taxiing from the cow pasture to a 1,500-foot dirt road, he attempted to take off on the dirt road, but aborted the takeoff when it looked like he was not going to make it. The aircraft's right wing collided with a tree and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4300S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4300S), registered now, S/N 28-8316064 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8316064 - Airframe hours: 5454 - Engines: Lycoming 0320D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Air Orlando Inc., doing business as Air Orlando - Registered owner: Air Orlando Acquisition Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 1998, 75 hours before - Departed: ORL, ORLANDO, FL - Destination: PDK, DEKALB, GA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 242 total, 76 in this make and model, 197 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 12 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 19990923045889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990923045889A), Sep 23, 1999: Piper PA28161, Covington, GA, No damage. (-23) On a flight from orlando, FL. To peachtree dekalb airport in atlanta, GA, pilot miscalculated fuel burn, ran out of fuel over Covington, GA, and landed… ## Other investigations on N4300S (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 MIA95LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA051), Dec 31, 1994: Piper PA-28-161 (N4300S), Lakeland, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE NO.1 VALVE SPRING THAT JAMMED THE INTAKE VALVE OPEN RESULTING IN PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. 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.