NYC82FFJ12

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-32 · Syracuse, NY · March 12, 1982

Accident · Minor injuriesFinal report
Date
March 12, 1982, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
Place
Syracuse, NY
Injuries
5 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N260BBPiper PA-32
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 12, 1983
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19820312004709A
Case key
72775

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalApproach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Fluid,fuel - starvationCause
Fuel tank selector position - not correctedPilot in commandCause
Forced landingApproach
Emergency procedure - improperPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectLanding
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Object - tree(s)Factor

Analysis

The pilot took off on a VFR flight plan with a litter patient and 3 other passengers onboard. The right main fuel tank was used for about the first 30 minutes of flight, then the pilot switched to the left main tank. While en route, an IFR flight plan was obtained when the destination weather did not improve to VFR conditions as forecast. The pilot reported that before descending into the clouds for an ILS approach, he performed a before landing check and switched back to the right main fuel tank. The engine lost power abruptly while on the approach. The pilot believed that he switched to the right tip tank, and then later, back to the right main tank, while attempting to start the engine. As the aircraft broke out of the clouds, the pilot attempted to maneuver to a clearing, but the plane struck trees and crashed. The fuel selector was found positioned to the left tank which had about 3 pints of fuel remaining.

Aircraft

Registration
N260BB
Reported as
Piper PA-32
Category
Airplane
Serial number
32-7400045
Airframe hours
2,131
Engine
Lycoming O-540-E435, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Professional Pilots Inc.
Registered owner
Jonanna Jones
Departed
W16 · Winchester, VA
Destination
Mccollum, GA
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
SYR · Syracuse

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
57
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
6,840 total · 105 in this make and model · 5,530 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 8 knots
Lowest ceiling
100 ft overcast
Temperature
99 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
SYR, 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.