Piper PA-34-200T N3054J

Summary

On 12 July 2001 at about 21:35 local time, a Piper PA-34-200T registered N3054J, operated by Kenneth B. Miller, was involved in an accident near Boca Raton, Florida, United States. 14 people were on board. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 July 2001 at 21:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Boca Raton, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Boca Ration (KBCT)

Coordinates

26.3783, -80.1075

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-200T

Registration

N3054J

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Kenneth B. Miller

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boca Raton → Sanford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01LA182

Injuries not recorded.

A loss of engine power, and the pilot unable to feather the propeller for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing on a highway, subsequent impact with a pole and vehicles.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Just after takeoff the pilot reported that the left engine lost power. He checked that the mixture, propellers, and throttles were all full forward, and that the fuel selector was "on." He said, "...I checked the fuel selectors by feel only." He recycled the left engine feather control and made the decision to land gear up. He retracted the landing gear, and attempted to feather the left engine again without success. At this point he could not maintain altitude or airspeed, estimated that his altitude was "between 150-200 feet," and the airspeed had decayed to 78 knots (83 was Vmc). He elected to land on an interstate highway, before the airplane started a Vmc roll. He landed in a southerly direction on the northbound lanes of the highway, first striking a light pole with the left wing, and then seven vehicles. After coming to a stop, the two occupants evacuated the airplane after the passenger said he was "in a puddle of fuel." The pilot stated that he "..…reached down and moved the fuel selectors back. They were full forward in the 'on' position. I missed the 'off ' and mistakenly moved them to crossfeed as I exited the airplane." Examination of the fuel selectors at the crash site revealed that both engine fuel selectors were in the "crossfeed" position. The left engine was test run, and no discrepancies were found. Fuel was found in the left engine. The fuel was visually examined for contamination and water, none was observed. Examination of the right engine revealed, no discrepancies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.