Piper PA-28-180 N7309W

Summary

On 24 March 2012 at about 22:53 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N7309W was involved in an accident near Margaret, Alabama, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 March 2012 at 22:53

Classification

Accident

Location

Margaret, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

33.6703, -86.4864

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-180

Registration

N7309W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Talladega → Talladega

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12LA253

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot and passenger departed on a local flight. During cruise flight, about 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot selected the other fuel tank. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot landed the airplane on a road, and the airplane struck a ditch. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was devoid of fuel. Fuel was found in the left tank, and it flowed normally when the left tank was selected utilizing the fuel selector valve. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that all of the fuel in the right fuel tank was used, and due to the low altitude fuel from the left tank did not reach the engine for attempted restart before the pilot had to configure the airplane for an off-airport landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.