# NTSB NYC94LA137: Piper PA-28-140, N32925, Augusta, ME, July 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 1994, 22:10 local (Jul 25, 1994, 02:10 UTC) - Place: Augusta, ME - Location: 44.3106° N, 69.7795° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Augusta, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3106&lon=-69.7795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 5, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38799/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA137 ## Probable cause The improper positioning of the fuel selector because of inadequate inflight decision/planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - rising ## Analysis THE PILOT DID A MISSED APPROACH AT HIS PLANNED DESTINATION DUE TO WEATHER AND FLEW TO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT WHERE THE ENGINE LOST POWER IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. ACCORDING TO THE THE PILOT, HE WAS IN A LEFT PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 17 WHEN HE NOTICED HE WAS TOO LOW DURING THE FINAL LEG. HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE DID A FORCED LANDING, DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH AN EMBANKMENT, AND CAME TO REST 250 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED 20 TO 22 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, THE LEFT TANK HAD LESS THAN A GALLON. THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH WAS POSITIONED FOR THE LEFT TANK. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 1994, at 2050 eastern daylight time, N32925, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, a personal flight, lost engine power and forced landed during approach to Augusta State Airport, Augusta, Maine. Visual meteorological conditions existed and the airplane was on an instrument flight plan. The instrument-rated private pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The departure point was Provincetown, Massachusetts. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the FAA, the pilot was on a return flight to Wiscassett, Maine where he refueled the airplane earlier in the day. He did a missed approach at Wiscassett due to weather conditions and then he diverted the flight to Augusta, as an alternate destination. The pilot entered a left traffic pattern for runway 17 at Augusta, and during the final leg, he noticed that he was low on the approach. He advanced the throttle, but the engine did not respond. The pilot did a forced landing, during which the airplane collided with an embankment. The airplane came to rest about 50 feet below the airport elevation and about 250 feet short of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the right fuel tank had about 20 to 22 gallons of fuel. The left fuel tank had less than a gallon. The fuel selector was positioned for the left tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32925](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32925-2013-08-06), registration cancelled 2013-08-06, S/N 28-7525128, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7525128 - Airframe hours: 3472 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-O3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul Johnstone - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1993, 30 hours before - Departed: PVC, PROVINCETOWN, MA - Destination: AUG, ME - Airport: AUG, Augusta State Airport, runway 17, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 716 total, 430 in this make and model, 641 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AUG ## 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 19940724019049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940724019049A), Jul 24, 1994: Piper PA28140, Augusta, ME, Substantial damage. Engine quit on final. Landed short. Collided with embankment. Fuel selector on empty tank. Fuel in other tank. 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.