Piper PA-28R-200 N32891

Summary

On 24 April 2004 at about 00:44 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N32891, operated by Dillon Aviation, was involved in an accident near Delco, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

24 April 2004 at 00:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Delco, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

34.2731, -77.9042

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N32891

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dillon Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fayetteville → Fayetteville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ATL04CA091

2 people had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's improper fuel management resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. A factor was the flight instructor's failure to use the checklist.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor was conducting an instrument training flight with a private pilot. The engine start, run up, and flight was conducted on the right main fuel tank. The airplane was flown for 2 hours and 4 minutes. While being vectored by an air traffic controller for an NDB approach the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The flight instructor did not use the check list for the loss of engine power. The fuel selector was not moved to the left main fuel tank. An emergency was declared with the controller and a forced landing was made to an open field. The airplane collided with trees on landing roll out. Examination of the right main fuel tank revealed the fuel tank was empty. The left wing separated during the accident and fuel was observed by emergency personnel dripping from the fuel tank. When the pilot was asked what may have caused the loss of engine power, he stated, "fuel starvation." Examination and partial disassembly of the engine revealed no anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.