Piper PA-23 N1439P
6 January 1993 · Tampa, Florida, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 6 January 1993 at about 05:12 local time, a Piper PA-23 registered N1439P, operated by Coulson, Jeffrey A., was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 05:12
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Tampa, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Tampa International (TPA)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23
- Registration
- N1439P
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Coulson, Jeffrey A.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Columbia → St. Petersburg
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- MIA93LA048
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Probable cause
POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE CFI RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PVT-RATED STUDENT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING BEFORE THE FLT & WAS ADVISED THAT FOG WAS FORECAST TO EXIST AT THE DESTINATION AT THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL. THE ESTIMATED TIME EN ROUTE WAS 3 HRS WITH 4 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE FLT DEPARTED AT 2027. THE FLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS APPROACH & THE CFI LET THE STUDENT FLY PART OF THE APPROACH BUT TOOK CONTROL & PERFORMED A MISSED APPROACH AT MINIMUMS. THE FLIGHT WAS CLEARED FOR ANOTHER ILS APCH WHICH TERMINATED WITH A MISSED APCH. THE FLT THEN REQUESTED CLEARANCE TO A NEARBY ARPT. THE FLT WAS CLEARED FOR AN ILS APCH, & WHEN IT WAS INBOUND ON THE FINAL APPROACH, THE TOWER CONTROLLER WAS ADVISED THAT AN ENGINE QUIT AND THEY WERE 'OUTTA FUEL.' THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN DITCHED NEAR A BRIDGE & ALL OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT SANK. THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED 5 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT & THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED WHICH REVEALED THE LT TANK DID NOT CONTAIN ANY FUEL. THE RT FUEL TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 8 OUNCES OF FUEL. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 0012, APPROXIMATELY 3 HRS 45 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-23 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 1993 | Piper PA-23-150 | Eloy, Arizona, United States | R.finkenbine & R. Kestler | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Spencer, Iowa, United States | Robert L. Cozine | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 1993 | Piper PA-23-150 | Diablo, California, United States | Norman E. Lamantia | Fatal | 2 |
| 17 Dec 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Showlow, Arizona, United States | John C. Morrison | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-23-160 | Mena, Arkansas, United States | Gaffney, Richard & Cynthia | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-23-250 | Elmwood Park, New Jersey, United States | Alan B. Fleischman | Fatal | 6 |
All 1,716 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec 1993 | Cessna 650 | Tampa, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Dec 1993 | Grumman G-44A | Leesburg, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Dec 1993 | Cessna 150F | Lantana, Florida, United States | Micro Aviation Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Mar 1993 | Smith Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 600 | Panama City, Florida, United States | Cherokee Leasing, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 18 Jan 1993 | Cessna 140 | Niceville, Florida, United States | RAY, Robert G. | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-28-140 | Kissimmee, Florida, United States | Joseph V. Fera | Serious injuries | - |