Piper PA-24-250 N5210P

Summary

On 2 September 1989 at about 17:40 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N5210P was involved in an accident near Hickory, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were 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.

Date

2 September 1989 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Hickory, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.7008, -81.0692

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N5210P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ft Lauderdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL89LA206

Nobody was injured.

PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY MONITOR THE ENGINE FUEL CONSUMPTION IN FLIGHT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT FOLLOWED BY A FORCED LANDING ON A HIGHWAY ABOUT SEVEN MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A FENCE POST. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD MADE THE TRIP PREVIOUSLY WITHOUT REFUELING. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONSUMED 11.4 GALLONS OF FUEL PER HOUR. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY WITH NO FUEL STAINS NOTED ON THE WINGS. THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR THE ENGINE INDICATED THAT THE ANTICIPATED FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS HIGHER THAN THE PILOT'S EXPECTATIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.