Piper PA-24-250 N5512P

Summary

On 24 May 1994 at about 13:30 local time, a Piper PA-24-250 registered N5512P, operated by Lowdermilk, Stephen M., was involved in an accident near Foley, Alabama, 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

24 May 1994 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Foley, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

30.3997, -87.6794

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-250

Registration

N5512P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Lowdermilk, Stephen M.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gulf Shores → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94LA105

1 person had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND RESULTANT IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR WERE FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TOOK OFF WITH BOTH FUEL TANKS SHOWING HALF FULL ON THE GAUGES, BUT HE DID NOT VISUALLY INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS FOR FUEL PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A COTTON FIELD. WHILE TRYING TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE PLOWED ROWS, IT STALLED ABOUT 10 FEET AGL, AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS SELECTED IN THE COCKPIT, AND THE FUEL SUMP WAS EMPTY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.