Piper PA-38-112 N40PA
23 August 2003 · Panama City, Florida, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 23 August 2003 at about 17:15 local time, a Piper PA-38-112 registered N40PA was involved in an accident near Panama City, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Panama City, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- 30.2000, -85.6667
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112
- Registration
- N40PA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Panama City → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA03LA170
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to follow the airplane manufacturer's recommendation to not use automobile fuel in the airplane resulting in deterioration of the fuel tank sealant, fuel starvation of the engine from fuel system contamination, and subsequent collision with trees during a force landing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While maneuvering the airplane, the pilot reported that the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing in a dirt field, impacted with trees at the approach end of the field, and nosed into the ground. Fuel was found at the crash site, and the pilot told investigators that he had refueled the airplane 6 days before the accident with 93 octane automobile gas.The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who responded to the accident stated the aircraft was utilizing 93 octane automobile gasoline by the current owner. Particles of the sealant used in the wet wing of the airplane were found throughout the wing tanks, electric-driven fuel pump, and carburetor. Piper Aircraft Corporation service bulletin number 855, dated January 14, 1987, outlines the concerns with respect to the use of automotive type gasoline in Piper airplanes. In summary, the use of automotive fuels is prohibited in Piper Airplanes. A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report was not received.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-38 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Aug 2003 | Piper PA-38-112 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Aug 2003 | Piper PA-38-112 | Joshua Tree, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 2003 | Piper PA-38-112 | Penalolen, Chile | Romeo Mike | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Aug 2003 | Piper PA-38 | Granbury, Texas, United States | Ray Stallings | No injuries | - |
| 20 Apr 2003 | Piper PA-38 | Trident, Montana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jul 2003 | Piper PA-38-112 | Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Dec 2003 | Cessna 172RG | Key West, Florida, United States | Avion Jet Center, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 2003 | Piper PA-25-235 | West Palm Beach, Florida, United States | Barry Aviation Florida, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Mar 2003 | Champion AERONCA 7BCM | Pahokee, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Oct 2003 | Airbus A330 | Miami, Florida, United States | Edelweiss Air AG | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 2003 | Samual G Dasilva VELOCITY | Sebastian, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Aug 2003 | Piper PA-31 | Clearwater, Florida, United States | Bruce T. Kendell | Fatal | 2 |