# NTSB NYC95LA229: Piper PA-28-151, N33330, Warminster, PA, September 29, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 1995, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Warminster, PA - Coordinates: 40.210582, -75.070755 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2106&lon=-75.0708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 16, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39056 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39056/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA229 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A contributing factor was pilot distraction. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fuel system - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Nose over, emergency landing - light condition - dark night - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE APPROACH AND LANDING CHECK LIST, HE WAS DISTRACTED BY A SICK PASSENGER AND DID NOT SELECT THE FULLEST FUEL TANK (RIGHT TANK) AND TURN THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP ON. '...ABOUT ONE HALF MILE FROM THE [RUNWAY]...I APPLIED POWER TO ARREST MY DESCENT RATE. THERE WAS NO POWER....I IMMEDIATELY WENT THROUGH ENGINE FAILURE PROCEDURES....I DISCOVERED THE FUEL STARVATION OR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CONDITION TOO LATE AND TOO LOW TO ACCURATELY ASSESS ITS CAUSE AND SOLUTION BEFORE CRASH LANDING...JUST OFF THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 27....IT WAS VERY DARK BENEATH US IN THE FIELD....WE SLOWLY TUMBLED OVER AFTER LANDING ON THE SOFT FILED.' POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO FUEL REMAINING IN THE LEFT TANK, 13 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND THE FUEL SELECTOR SELECTED TO THE RIGHT TANK. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 1995, about 1930 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151, N33330, was substantially damaged, when it collided with terrain, during a forced landing at the Warminster Airport, Warminster, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight operated by the Warminster Navy Flying Club. No flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated: ...With runway 27's approach lights flashing directly ahead of the aircraft, and at about one half mile from the numbers [runway], I sensed the aircraft was sinking and applied power to arrest my descent rate. There was no power. I immediately went through engine failure procedures on the front panel, very rushed, since I could already see the trees directly in front of the windscreen....I discovered the fuel starvation or loss of engine power condition too late and too low to accurately assess its cause and solution before crash landing into the Navy's plowed field, just off the approach end of runway 27....It was very dark beneath us in the field....We slowly tumbled over after landing on the soft field.... In a report submitted by the Warminster Navy Flying Club, it stated: ...During the approach back into Warminster and while on downwind, the [pilot] performed the approach and landing checklist but did not select the fullest tank (right tank) and turn on the electric fuel pump. [The pilot] later stated that he was rushed and pre-occupied with a non-communicative rear passenger who was possibly getting air sick....while on final approach, the engine quit due to fuel starvation....[The pilot] executed engine failure procedures, selected the fullest tank (right tank) but did not energize the [fuel] boost pump. The engine did not start....Initial investigation of the wreckage found zero fuel remaining in the left wing tank and 13 gallons in the right wing tank. Visual inspection of the cockpit revealed the right fuel tank selected, throttle open, mixture rich, [fuel] boost pump off and all circuit beakers in.... Additionally, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33330](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33330-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 28-7515294, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7515294 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Warminster Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NPJ - Airport: NJP, Warminster, runway 27, 8,002 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 315 total, 51 in this make and model, 218 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950929044739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950929044739A), Sep 29, 1995: Piper PA28151, Warminster, PA, Substantial damage. Low on final pushed in throttle to correct. Engine failed respond. Tumbled in field short. Ran a tank dry. No start 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.