Piper PA-34-200T N952JW

Summary

On 23 September 2001 at about 18:38 local time, a Piper PA-34-200T registered N952JW was involved in an accident near Petoskey, Michigan, United States. 7 people were on board and 2 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 September 2001 at 18:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Petoskey, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

45.3609, -84.9501

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-200T

Registration

N952JW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mackinac Island → Pelston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI01LA322

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, the pilot's improper in-flight decisions, and the unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor relating to this accident was fuel exhaustion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that the previous evening they had flown from Pontiac, Michigan, to Mackinac Island. He said that he figured the people, baggage, and fuel for the trip and determined that there would be enough fuel to fly from Pontiac to Mackinac Island, and then from Mackinac Island to Pellston, Michigan. The pilot said he planned to refuel at Pellston because they don't sell fuel at the Mackinac Island Airport. He said that when he taxied out for departure from Mackinac Island, he had 12 gallons of fuel in each tank. He said that Pellston was 10 minutes away. After takeoff, the pilot contacted ARTCC and received vectors to the ILS approach for Pellston. The weather at Pellston was ceilings of 800 broken, 1,500 overcast, 2-1/2 miles visibility with moderate rain. While on the localizer, the pilot reported losing the localizer. ARTCC provided vectors to the localizer. The pilot informed the controller he was low on fuel. The pilot intercepted the localizer and reported he was established on the approach. Three minutes later, the pilot informed ARTCC he was missed approach. The ARTCC controller asked the pilot what his intentions were. The pilot said he was low on fuel and needed to get down, and requested if there was an airport nearby that had good visibility. The controller provided weather information for several airports and a pilot report for Charlevoix. After considering the options, the pilot elected to proceed to Charlevoix and then decided to go to Gaylord, Michigan. Approximately 6 minutes later, the pilot reported losing an engine. The controller told the pilot the Harbor Springs Airport (D87) was 8 miles southeast of his position and asked the pilot if he still wanted to go to Gaylord? The pilot said yes. The controller asked the pilot if he had any approach plates for D87. The pilot said that he didn't have enough fuel to make D87. The controller said that D87 was now 8 miles in front of him and that he was set up for the RNAV approach to runway 10. The pilot said he would need help with the instructions to fly the approach. The pilot and the controller exchanged information for the approach. Approximately 13 minutes after losing the first engine, the pilot reported losing his other engine. The controller gave the pilot vectors to get him back toward D87. The pilot said that when he came out of the clouds he was 300 to 400 feet above the water. He said he could see the shore to his left. The pilot made a 30-degree turn toward the shore. The pilot put the airplane down on the shoreline. The airplane nosed over. An examination of the airplane showed no anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.