Piper PA-25-235 N7160Z

Summary

On 6 January 2009 at about 16:45 local time, a Piper PA-25-235 registered N7160Z, operated by Meeks Aerial Advertising LLC, was involved in an accident near Pensacola, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 January 2009 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Pensacola, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Ferguson Airport (82J)

Coordinates

30.3922, -87.3428

Aircraft

Piper PA-25-235

Registration

N7160Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Meeks Aerial Advertising LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pensacola → Pensacola

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA131

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed following a total loss of engine power during a low-level approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was fuel exhaustion due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had been flying for about 20 to 30 minutes, practicing banner tow pick-up and using the local left-hand traffic pattern prior to the accident. One witness noted the airplane in a closer than normal traffic pattern as it was turning to the runway and close in to his house. The engine made a "couple of popping sounds and went silent" about 300 feet above ground level. The airplane was then observed in a left bank and 45-degree nose down attitude as it descended into terrain. All other witnesses reported that the engine was not running at the time of the accident. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel system had not been compromised. No fuel could be seen in the fuel tank. A fuel sample was taken from the lower firewall fuel drain and was found to be consistent with the odor and color of 100 low lead aviation fuel. Removal and examination of the carburetor fuel bowl found approximately 8 ounces of fuel remaining. The date of the airplane’s last fueling and the hours of operation since that fueling could not be determined. Postmortem toxicology testing performed on specimens from the pilot was consistent with recent ingestion of a night-time multisymptom cold reliever containing a sedating antihistamine. The pilot's weight may have placed him at risk for obstructive sleep apnea and associated daytime fatigue. The pilot may have been impaired by fatigue from recent use of a sedating antihistamine, from poor sleep due to cold symptoms, and/or from the effects of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea; however, the role of any such impairment in the accident could not be definitively determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.