Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St. Matthews, South Carolina 29135
Saturday, March 5, 1994 17:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 4,500 FEET MSL. AT THAT TIME, HE OBSERVED THE FUEL GAUGES TO READ ONE QUARTER TANK ON THE LEFT, AND FULL ON THE RIGHT. THE ENGINE QUIT, AND HE SET UP FOR BEST GLIDE SPEED. HE CYCLED THE CARB HEAT, AND CHECKED THE MAGNETOS. HE SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TANK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER ABOUT ONE MINUTE, HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT TANK. HE CONTINUED RESTART PROCEDURES AS HE SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS SELECTED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, INCLUDING A SUCCESSFUL ENGINE RUN, FAILED TO REVEAL ANY REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER, OR FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE TO RESTART.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION WIRE LOCATED AT THE FORCED LANDING SITE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/5/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1740
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ST. MATTHEWS
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29135
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 3
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 1751 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID CAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 236
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 5 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N43571
NTSB Number ATL94LA060
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7405204
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 17 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 101
Airframe Hours 3088
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JB AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 103D
Aircraft Owner City WINNSBORO
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29180
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JB AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address ROUTE 1, BOX 103D
Operator City WINNSBORO
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29180
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 No
Departure Airport Code 71S
Departure City SUMMERVILLE
Departure State SC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1710
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FDW
Destination City WINNSBORO
Destination State SC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --