Piper PA-32RT-300 N36086

Summary

On 26 January 2014 at about 21:00 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 registered N36086, operated by H Kyle GAY M D Inc, was involved in an accident near Millen, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and 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

26 January 2014 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Millen, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Private Strip (None)

Coordinates

32.8006, -81.9409

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300

Registration

N36086

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

H Kyle GAY M D Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Millen → Milledgeville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA105

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to fully seat the fuel selector in the left tank position before takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner said that the preflight, engine start, run-up, and taxi checks all appeared "normal" with no anomalies noted. During the initial climb after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot lowered the landing gear and maneuvered the airplane toward an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck baled hay on the border of the field and came to rest inverted with the wings separated. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector lever was adjacent to the left tank position but that it was out of the left tank detent. Manipulation of the lever revealed smooth operation and positive detents at each position selected. A can of fuel was plumbed into the fuel system, and the propeller and starter were replaced due to impact damage. The engine was then started, and it accelerated smoothly and ran without interruption with no anomalies noted. It is likely that the fuel selector being out of the of left tank detent resulted in reduced fuel flow to the engine and the subsequent loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.