Piper PA-22-150 N2716P

Summary

On 3 May 1999 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-22-150 registered N2716P, operated by Robert F. Lamay, was involved in an accident near Oswego, New York, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 May 1999 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Oswego, New York, United States

Coordinates

43.4497, -76.4998

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-150

Registration

N2716P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert F. Lamay

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fulton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99LA105

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate fuel management which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was flying a practice approach to an airstrip he was constructing on his land, and that was incomplete. The fuel selector was switched from the left to the right tank, about 5 minutes before arriving at the airstrip. After flying about two thirds down the runway, the pilot added power, and began a climb. The engine then lost power. As the pilot pulled sharply back on the controls to avoid obstacles, the airplane stalled, and impacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed the right wing fuel tank was empty, and 1 pint of fuel was drained from the auxiliary fuel tank. The left tank contained approximately 15 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector, located in the cockpit, was found in a position, in-between the left and right fuel tank settings. The operating instructions section of the Piper Tri-Pacer owners handbook stated that, 'Before take-off, it is very important that the fuel selector be checked to make sure it is on the proper tank.' Additionally, the handbook cautioned, 'When fuel quantity in right tank is 1/3 or less use only in level flight.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.