Piper PA-24-250 N6085P

Summary

On 28 January 1994 at about 20:30 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N6085P was involved in an accident near Centreville, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 January 1994 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Centreville, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Bibb County (0A8)

Coordinates

32.9491, -87.1306

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N6085P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Alabaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94FA046

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE PROPER POSITION FOR TAKEOFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD PURCHASED THE AIRPANE 11 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND HAD 9 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE. AFTER DEPARTING RUNWAY 27, WITNESSES HEARD THE PILOT REPORT ON UNICOM THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT WITH AN UNSPECIFIED EMERGENCY. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED IN A STEEP LEFT BANK AND NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN WEST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 27. THE AIRPLANE FUEL SELECTORS WERE FOUND IN THE TIP TANK SELECTED POSITION. THE FAA-APPROVED AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL SUPPLEMENT FOR INSTALLATION OF BRITTAIN INDUSTRIES WING TIP FUEL TANKS ON PIPER PA-24-250 AIRCRAFT STATES THAT WING TIP TANK FUEL IS TO BE USED IN LEVEL FLIGHT ONLY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.