# NTSB NYC99LA005: Piper PA-31-350, N3543A, Ravenna, OH, October 8, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 8, 1998, 02:55 local (06:55 UTC) - Place: Ravenna, OH - Coordinates: 41.150299, -81.23999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1503&lon=-81.2400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44175/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA005 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to continue to operate the airplane with inoperative equipment which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors were the inoperative fuel quantity gauges, and the night conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inoperative (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - all engines - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a night multiple-leg flight series with full tanks. On approach for the second landing, the green landing gear lights extinguished. The pilot discovered that if the landing gear was extended the circuit breaker would stay in and if the landing gear was retracted the circuit breaker would pop. The circuit breaker controlled the landing gear lights, the engine oil pressure, and both fuel quantity gauges. The pilot continued on four additional flights in that condition. The fourth flight terminated 5 miles from the runway with a double power loss. Examination revealed the fuel tanks were empty. The pilot had flown the airplane 4.3 hours including 6 takeoffs, one missed approach, and a 20 minute ground run prior to departure with both engines running on the final flight. ## Factual narrative On October 8, 1998, about 0255 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N3543A, operated by Castle Aviation, was destroyed during a forced landing near Ravenna, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the positioning flight, which had departed from Detroit, Michigan (DTW). The flight was operated on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91. Interviews with an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disclosed that the flight had originated earlier in the evening from Portage County Airport (29G), Ravenna, with full fuel tanks (182 gallons of useable fuel). The pilot operated the airplane on a series of positioning flights under 14 CFR Part 91, and when cargo was carried, the flights were operated under 14 CFR Part 135. The pilot told the FAA Inspectors that on the second leg of the flight, while on final approach, the green "landing gear down and locked" lights failed to illuminate. The pilot performed a missed approach and while being vectored for the ILS a second time, noticed that a circuit breaker had popped, and reset it. The pilot also reported that the circuit breaker would not stay reset as long as the landing gear was retracted. However, when the landing gear was extended, the circuit breaker would stay reset. After landing, the pilot departed on the next leg of his flight series, and continued to operate the airplane in this condition for four additional flights. At the completion of the last cargo flight which terminated in DTW, the pilot was asked by company personnel if he had sufficient fuel for the return flight to 29G, and replied that he did. The pilot reported that en route to 29G, he used the remaining fuel in the auxiliary tanks and then switched to the main tanks. While on a descent, about 2,600 feet mean sea level (MSL), and maneuvering for a visual approach, the engines started surging and subsequently lost power. The pilot then performed a forced landing in a wooded area about 5 miles east of the airport. Examination of the airplane by FAA Inspectors revealed that all fuel tanks were empty, and the airplane had flown 4.3 hours since being refueled. During that time, the pilot performed six takeoffs, two approaches with higher than normal speeds at the request of approach control, and one missed approach to a second ILS approach. The pilot also incurred a 20 minute ground delay with both engines operating prior to his final departure. The pilot also told the FAA Inspectors that the fuel gauges indicated between 1/4 and 1/2 on the main fuel tanks prior to departure from DTW. Examination by FAA Inspectors revealed that with no electrical power on the fuel quantity measuring system, the left fuel tank gauge read 1/4 and the right fuel tank gauge read 1/3. Examination of electrical wiring diagram for the Piper PA-31-350 revealed that the circuit breaker that had popped when the landing gear was retracted, controlled the landing gear lights, the oil pressure indications for both engines, and both fuel quantity gauges. The toxicological testing report from the Ohio State Highway Crime Lab, Columbus, Ohio, was negative for drugs and alcohol for the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3543A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3543A-2017-04-07), registration cancelled 2017-04-07, S/N 31-7952242, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7952242 - Airframe hours: 10112 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Castle Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 2, 1998, 18 hours before - Departed: DTW, DETROIT, MI - Destination: 29G - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 29G, Portage County Airport, runway 27, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,370 total, 80 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19981008028349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981008028349A), Oct 8, 1998: Piper PA31350, Ravenna, OH, Destroyed. Check hauler was clered for visual approach when it crashed under unknown circumstances.(.19) on October 8, 1998, about 0255 eastern daylight time, a Piper… 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.