Piper PA-23 N200WH

Summary

On 10 January 2001 at about 15:30 local time, a Piper PA-23 registered N200WH was involved in an accident near Griffith, Indiana, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

10 January 2001 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Griffith, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Griffith-Merrillville (05C)

Coordinates

41.5195, -87.4191

Aircraft

Piper PA-23

Registration

N200WH

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Griffith → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI01TA063

1 person was seriously injured.

The unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. Factors included the loss of power for undetermined reasons and the rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported all four fuel tanks were topped off with fuel. The pilot reported that during start-up he "switched fuel selectors from inboard tanks to outboard tanks and noted that the fuel gauges registered empty. …I then recycled the fuel control valves, even though they were hard to move since they were setting out in the 15 degree weather, and got a full reading on both gauges." The pilot reported that the takeoff procedure was normal and that all gauges were normal prior to rotation. He reported, "Within seconds of rotation, I experienced what I think was a loss of both engines. …With no time to spare, since I was losing altitude, I initiated a turn to avoid damage to life and property in the vicinity of the take off path." The pilot had received his multi-engine land rating on November 8, 2000, and had a total of 31 hours of multi-engine experience, all flown in the accident airplane. The inspection of the airplane revealed flight control continuity to all control surfaces. The left wing inboard and outboard fuel tanks had been compromised. No fuel was found in the left wing gascolator. Fuel was observed in the right wing inboard tank. The right outboard tank was compromised and contained no fuel. The right gascolator contained fuel and dirty brown water contamination. The left and right propeller blades exhibited minor bending. No preexisting anomalies were observed from the left or right engine that would preclude normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.