Wsk PZL-104 N7169Z

Summary

On 6 September 1990 at about 17:00 local time, a Wsk PZL-104 registered N7169Z was involved in an accident near Smithfield, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 1990 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Smithfield, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Johnson County (JNX)

Coordinates

35.4994, -78.3407

Aircraft

Wsk PZL-104

Registration

N7169Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL90LA167

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADDITIONAL LANDING. THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER SEVERAL LANDINGS, THE PILOT DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT WITH ADDITIONAL LANDINGS. HOWEVER, BEFORE THE TAKEOFF, THEY REALIZED THAT FUEL WAS CRITICAL, SO THEY ELECTED TO FLY A TIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE ENGINE QUIT ON DOWNWIND. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING TO THE RUNWAY, BUT COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT FAILED TO PLAN FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SERIES OF LANDINGS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.