Piper PA-32R-301T N270LM

Summary

On 19 June 2003 at about 18:13 local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T registered N270LM was involved in an accident near Scottsboro, Alabama, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured, 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

19 June 2003 at 18:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Scottsboro, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Scottsboro Municipal Word Fiel (4A6)

Coordinates

34.6903, -86.0228

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-301T

Registration

N270LM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Saint Simons Is → Nashville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL03FA114

2 people died.

The pilot's improper fuel management which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and subsequent impact with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The passenger said they departed St Simons Island, Georgia at about 10:00 am estimated. Their destination was Nashville, Tennessee to stop for fuel then they were to continue on to Chicago, Illinois. The passenger continued by saying that they had encountered some storm trouble somewhere in Georgia and had taken a detour. The pilot was flying the airplane on autopilot when she noticed the engine lost power. The pilot then took control of the airplane and started speaking with someone on the radio. He stated he had engine problems and needed to know where the closest airport was. The person on the radio stated that they could not see them on radar. Then stated that the closest airport was three to five miles, and the pilot responded that they could not make that three miles. The pilot stated that they were going to try and land the airplane in a field. The passenger said they circled around the field maybe two times then flew straight into a wooded area. Examination of the right wing found it attached to the fuselage and angled up about 35-degrees supported by tree branches. The right wing fuel tanks were breached in the accident and no fuel was evident. The left main and auxiliary fuel tanks were intact with about 13 gallons of fuel remaining. The fuel selector was on the right tank. Nothing was found during the course of the investigation that would have precluded this engine from producing power prior to impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.