Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stow, Massachusetts 01775
Monday, February 28, 1994 18:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 3 DURING A DARK NIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES IN A WOODED AREA. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE EARLIER FOR ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE RIGHT AUXILIARY TANK. HE STATED THAT HE LANDED AND PICKED UP A PASSENGER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COMPLETED AN ABBREVIATED CHECKLIST WHICH INCLUDED CHECKING THE POSITION OF THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SELECTOR. HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON 'A MAIN TANK.' AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT FOUND THE FUEL SELECTOR ON THE RIGHT AUXILIARY FUEL TANK WHICH WAS EMPTY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF A MORE DELIBERATE CHECK OF THE STATUS OF THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN TO COMPLETE A FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/28/1994
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City STOW
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01775
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1845 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID BED
Elevation of weather observation facility 431
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2056
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 28 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:39AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9322P
NTSB Number BFO94LA053
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24- 260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24- 260
Aircraft Serial Number 24-4819
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 28 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 4100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STUMPF, BERNARD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 50 ACTON ROAD
Aircraft Owner City CHELMSFORD
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 01825
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name STUMPF, BERNARD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 50 ACTON ROAD
Operator City CHELMSFORD
Operator State MA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 01825
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 6B6
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --