Piper PA-30 N8751Y

Summary

On 17 September 2007 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-30 registered N8751Y, operated by Ronald C. Smith, was involved in an accident near Milton, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 2007 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Milton, Florida, United States

Coordinates

30.6869, -86.8839

Aircraft

Piper PA-30

Registration

N8751Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Ronald C. Smith

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Raymond → Destin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA07LA152

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the pilot to attain the proper touchdown point during the precautionary landing resulting in the on-ground collision with fence posts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before takeoff an individual other than the pilot "sticked" each fuel tank for quantity, but the stick had not been calibrated. The pilot estimated that he had 60-65 gallons of fuel on-board for the intended 1 hour 20 minute flight. After takeoff the flight climbed to 5,500 feet, where he positioned each fuel selector to the auxiliary position. The flight continued and while descending when near the destination airport, both engines lost power due to fuel starvation. The pilot repositioned both fuel selectors to each main position, which restored engine power. He notified air traffic control, who vectored the flight to a military grass landing strip. With both engines developing power, the pilot landed to the east but touched down approximately 3,725 feet past the western edge of the grass field. The airplane collided with a fence and came to rest upright approximately 1,200 feet from the first touchdown point. Examination of the airplane revealed 14.75 gallons of fuel drained from the left fuel tanks, and 3.0 gallons of fuel drained from the right fuel tanks. No fuel leakage was noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.