Piper PA-28-180 N8490W

Summary

On 24 March 1998 at about 18:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N8490W was involved in an accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 March 1998 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Punta Gorda, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Shell Creek Airpark (F13)

Coordinates

26.9095, -81.7697

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N8490W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Punta Gorda → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA98LA105

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight departed with adequate fuel quantity and while flying at 2,000 feet over a grass airstrip, the CFI simulated an engine failure by reducing the throttle to idle. The student performed the emergency procedures which included applying carburetor heat, activation of the auxiliary fuel pump, and switching the fuel selector to the right tank. The student maneuvered the airplane toward the grass runway and at the approach end of the runway, was advised to go-around. While climbing between 250-300 feet, the engine quit. The student moved the fuel selector back to the left tank and engine power was restored momentarily, then the engine quit again. The CFI maneuvered the airplane to a field and after touchdown with the throttle still applied, after the nose landing gear contacted a berm, engine power was again restored. The nose landing gear then separated and the airplane came to rest. No contaminants were noted in the fuel tanks and no fuel was found in the gascolator during recovery of the airplane. No obstructions of either fuel tank vent or fuel delivery system were noted; the auxiliary fuel pump tested within limits. The engine was found to operate normally.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.