Piper PA-32-300 N685BW

Summary

On 18 June 2003 at about 02:39 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N685BW, operated by Package Express, was involved in an accident near Fort Mill, 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

18 June 2003 at 02:39

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Mill, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Charlotte Douglas Airport (CLT)

Coordinates

35.0073, -80.9484

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N685BW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Package Express

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Raleigh Durham → Charlotte

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL03LA108

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation and the 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 receiving vectors from air traffic control for an ILS approach to runway 36R at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina. After leveling off from a turn during his last vector, he heard a loud noise and the engine lost power. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and the pilot aligned the airplane with a road for an emergency landing. During the descent, the airplane struck trees and power lines, then collided with the pavement and caught fire. The pilot escaped through the cargo door, and the cabin area was fire damaged. The right wing had evidence of a wire strike at the position of the right main fuel tank but the main tank was not burned. According to the pilot, the airplane had been airborne for a total 2 hours, 29 minutes on the two legs since refueling at which time the tanks were topped off. A review of fuel usage records for the airplane, the engine consumes approximately 15 gallons of fuel per hour. The Cherokee Six is equipped with two main fuel tanks with a capacity of 25 gallons each, and two auxiliary fuel tanks with a capacity of 17 gallons each.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.