Piper PA-32-300 N4811T

Summary

On 23 July 1999 at about 00:00 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N4811T was involved in an accident near McGrath, Alaska, 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

23 July 1999 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

McGrath, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

63.6104, -154.7791

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N4811T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sparrevohn Lrrs → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC99LA097

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper management of the fuel supply, and subsequent fuel starvation. A factor in the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was returning to his company base after dropping passengers and freight at two intermediate stops. The distance on the route from the company base airport to the accident site, was about 243 nautical miles. The pilot said he landed at his last intermediate stop with the fuel selector on the right main tank, and departed with the fuel selector on the left main fuel tank. Both the left and right wing tip fuel tanks were full of fuel. While descending toward the company base, the engine quit. The pilot selected the right wing tip tank, turned on the fuel boost pump, and attempted to restart the engine without success. He selected the left wing tip tank, but the engine did not start. The pilot made an emergency landing in a small opening in the trees about 15 miles south of the company base airport. During the landing, the airplane collided with several small trees, and then touched down in soft, boggy terrain. The director of operations for the company responded to the accident scene. He reported the left main fuel tank was empty. Fuel was present in the right main tank, and in each wing tip tank. For flight planning purposes, the director of operations said the company uses a fuel burn of 20 gallons per hour, and an airspeed of 125 knots. An FAA inspector inspected the airplane. The inspector reported the left main tank was empty. Fuel flowed from each fuel tank to the engine, except from the left main tank. After replacing the propeller, the engine was started, and it ran normally. The airplane owner's handbook notes that the fuel selector should be changed to another tank before fuel is exhausted from the tank in use. The handbook also notes that it may take up to ten seconds, after switching fuel tanks, to restore power if fuel exhaustion has occurred.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.