Piper PA-30 N7794Y

Summary

On 1 June 1998 at about 20:32 local time, a Piper PA-30 registered N7794Y was involved in an accident near Floyd, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 June 1998 at 20:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Floyd, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.9090, -80.3098

Aircraft

Piper PA-30

Registration

N7794Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Concorde → Lewisburg

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD98LA065

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's improper selection of fuel tank position resulting in fuel starvation of both engines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

In cruise flight at 10,500 feet, the pilot reported a loss of engine power on one engine and requested vectors to an airport approximately 40 miles away. The controller offered vectors to any of three airports closer to the airplane's position. The pilot declined the offer and repeated his initial request. The airplane subsequently lost power in both engines and crashed approximately 30 miles prior to the requested airport. Examination revealed an undetermined amount of fuel in both outboard auxiliary fuel tanks. Both inboard main fuel tanks contained no evidence of fuel. The cockpit area revealed each fuel selector was in the 'Main' position. The two main tanks held a total of 60 gallons, of which 6 gallons were unusable. Performance charts for the airplane revealed that in cruise flight at 10,500 feet, the airplane consumed approximately 15 gallons of fuel per hour. Examination of the airplane's rental and fueling records revealed the it had flown approximately 4 hours since the last fuel service and had completed at least 5 takeoffs and landings. Examination of the fuel system revealed no defects and both engines ran to rated power in a test cell.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.