Piper PA-28-140 N9993W

Summary

On 7 November 2020 at about 01:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N9993W, operated by Talon Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Greenville, Michigan, United States. 3 people were 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

7 November 2020 at 01:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenville, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Greenville Municipal Airport (6D6)

Coordinates

43.1421, -85.2539

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N9993W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Talon Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greenville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN21LA048

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during a low approach over the airport, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the personal flight said he completed a night cross-country flight to two airports and returned for landing to the departure airport. During approach to the departure airport, he overflew the airport at low-level to check for deer on the runway for intended landing. During a right turn for the landing approach, the engine lost power and a subsequent engine restart attempt was unsuccessful. He stated that he could still hear some engine noise and tried to use the throttle to pump fuel. He stated there was a slight rise in engine speed when he first pumped the throttle. He was unable to regain engine power then performed a forced landing during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed about 1 pint of fuel in the left fuel tank and about 12 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank. There was about 1 tablespoon of fuel in the carburetor and no fuel in the gascolator bowl. The loss of engine power during the right turn, with the right wing in a low attitude, most likely occurred due to unporting of any residual fuel in the left fuel tank, which did not have useable fuel remaining. Also, when some engine power was regained during the pumping of the throttle, it was indicative of only residual fuel available from the carburetor. Though the pilot stated he selected the left fuel tank about 30 minutes prior to accident, a positive selection would have supplied usable fuel to the engine and a loss of engine power likely would not have occurred.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.