Piper PA-28-181 N82974

Summary

On 8 August 1999 at about 22:22 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N82974, operated by Greenville Aviation FLT School, was involved in an accident near Greenville, South Carolina, United States. One person was 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.

Date

8 August 1999 at 22:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenville, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Greenville Downtown (GMU)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N82974

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Greenville Aviation FLT School

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Goldsboro → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99LA221

1 person had minor injuries.

The improper position of the fuel selector by the pilot-in-command resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Also, the inadequate altitude flown by the pilot on final approach preventing a landing on the runway following the loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight departed with full fuel tanks and the fuel selector was positioned briefly to the left tank using only 2-3 gallons of fuel; the remainder of the flight the fuel selector was positioned to the right tank. The flight was cleared to land from a left base leg and while on short final approach, with the flaps extended 20 degrees, he added power but the engine did not respond. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. He cycled the fuel pump switch and fuel pressure decreased to zero. He declared a mayday and unable to land on the runway, collided with an embankment short of the displaced threshold. The left wing separated from the airplane during the impact sequence. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed only approximately 2 ounces of fuel drained from the intact right wing fuel tank. The left wing fuel tank was found to contain approximately 9 gallons. Fuel was added to the right wing fuel tank and the engine was started and operated to 800 rpm; damage to the propeller precluded operation to a higher rpm. Examination of the fuel vent system, fuel quantity indication system revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.