Piper PA-28-140 N4578R
26 December 1992 · Slaton, Texas, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 26 December 1992 at about 02:49 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N4578R, operated by Fitzgerald, James F., was involved in an accident near Slaton, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:49
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Slaton, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.4293, -101.6393
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140
- Registration
- N4578R
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Fitzgerald, James F.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- FTW93LA056
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER FUEL TANK SELECTION. A FACTOR THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT, WHO HELD AN EXPIRED STUDENT CERTIFICATE, HAD THE RIGHT FUEL TANK REFUELED WITH 88 OCTANE AUTOMOTIVE GAS BEFORE DEPARTING FOR THE NIGHT FLIGHT WITH THREE PASSENGERS. THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB OUT FROM THE AIRPORT, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND ON A SLOPE IN A CANYON. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND POWERPLANT DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. HOWEVER, THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE WAS FOUND POSITIONED ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE POWERPLANT HAD BEEN CONVERTED UNDER AN STC TO USE AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28-161 | New Smyrna Bch, Florida, United States | ACS, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Denton, Texas, United States | Thomas A. Tweeddale | No injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Woodland, California, United States | MR. Aircraft, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Brookfield, Wisconsin, United States | Brookfield Pilot Service, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 6 Dec 1992 | Piper PA-28-181 | Missing Acft, California, United States | West Valley Flying Club | Fatal | 4 |
| 29 Mar 1992 | Piper PA-28-161 | Kenai, Alaska, United States | Tapp, Michael A. | No injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 1992 | Beechcraft B19 | Bonham, Texas, United States | ARI BEN Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jan 1992 | Alvin D Campbell KR-2 | San Marcos, Texas, United States | Alvin D. Campbell | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jan 1992 | Cessna 205A | Spring, Texas, United States | Owens, Grady | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1992 | Mooney M20J | Austin, Texas, United States | Kissock, Darryl C. | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Sep 1992 | Robinson R22 | Alpine, Texas, United States | Helicopters International | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jan 1992 | Cessna 150M | Canyon Lake, Texas, United States | Aviacion de Los Andes | Minor injuries | - |