Piper PA-28-180 N8378W

Summary

On 16 June 2003 at about 15:13 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N8378W was involved in an accident near Ocean Springs, Mississippi, 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

16 June 2003 at 15:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Ocean Springs, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

Ocean Springas Airport (5R2)

Coordinates

30.3933, -88.7556

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N8378W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ocean Springs → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA03LA133

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power due to starvation as a result of the pilot's continued operation of an airplane with known deficiencies.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during the takeoff/initial climb, while near the end of the runway, at an altitude of 150 feet, the airplane's engine began to sputter and act as if it was going to cease operating. He stated that he glanced at the fuel selector switch and confirmed that it appeared to be at the proper position, and he then started pumping the throttle. He said the engine seemed as if it would "recover" but as he continued to pump the throttle, the engine finally ceased operating. He said he then maneuvered to avoid obstacles and executed a forced landing into the marsh. During the landing the airplane flipped over its back and was damaged. After recovery from the marsh, an FAA examiner examined the accident airplane, and the examination revealed that the fuel selector valve had been set beyond the "right tank" detent, which when tested, prevented the flow of fuel to the engine. In addition, the inspector said that the pilot told him that he had problems previously with the engine ceasing to operate when the fuel selector valve was in the "right tank" position, so he had been rotating it beyond the detent for the "right tank" position and had experienced no problems since. The inspector stated that records revealed that the accident airplane had last received an annual inspection on May 10, 1997.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.