Piper PA-32-260 N3992W

Summary

On 29 May 2021 at about 13:15 local time, a Piper PA-32-260 registered N3992W was involved in an accident near Flint, Michigan, United States. 2 people were 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

29 May 2021 at 13:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Flint, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Bishop Intl (FNT)

Coordinates

42.9704, -83.7459

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-260

Registration

N3992W

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA247

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor his fuel quantity during flight which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, before the flight, he set a 30-minute fuel management timer to remind him to switch fuel tanks. The pilot took off and conducted flight maneuvers; he then returned to the airport to practice touch-and-go landings. The alarm from his fuel management timer activated while on short final for the first landing; however, he forgot to switch fuel tanks. During the initial climb after the fourth touch-and-go landing, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot attempted to land on a nearby taxiway that paralleled the runway; however, the pilot overshot the taxiway. As the pilot turned the airplane back towards the taxiway, he held too much back pressure on the yoke in order to remain airborne and stalled the airplane, about 15 ft above ground level. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest on the taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot additionally stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had immediately switched to the other fuel tank when his fuel management timer alarm activated.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.