Piper PA-31-350 N130CM

Summary

On 16 February 2003 at about 20:20 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N130CM was involved in an accident near Taylor Mill, Kentucky, 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 February 2003 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Taylor Mill, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Cincinnati Municipal (LUK)

Coordinates

39.0081, -84.4831

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N130CM

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manhattan → Cincinnati

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03LA051

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inaccurate in-flight planning and fuel consumption calculations, and his improper decision not to land and refuel.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he planned the estimated the 726 statute mile flight would take approximately 3 hours and 46 minutes, with one stop to pick up cargo. The available fuel for the flight was 182 gallons, which equaled an approximate 4 hour and 55 minutes endurance, assuming a 40 gallon per hour fuel burn. The flight proceeded uneventfully to the first stop; the airplane was not fueled, and it departed. As the flight neared the destination airport, the pilot began to get nervous because the main tanks were "going fast." He switched to the auxiliary fuel tanks, to "get all of the fuel out of them," and switched back to the main tanks. While executing an approach to the airport, the pilot advised the approach controller that he had lost power to the right engine, and then shortly thereafter, reported losing power to the left engine. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a railroad yard. After touching down, the left wing struck a four-foot high dirt mound, and separated from the main fuselage. The airplane came to rest upright on a railroad track. The pilot additionally stated that the loss of power to both engines was due to fuel exhaustion, and poor fuel planning.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.