Greenville Downtown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Greenville, South Carolina 29615
Thursday, July 14, 1994 9:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ISSUED A DESCENT CLEARANCE TWENTY MILES SOUTH OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE COMPLETED AN ARRIVAL CHECK, WHICH INCLUDED THE APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR HEAT, CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR POSITION, AND ESTABLISHED A 500 FOOT PER MINUTE RATE OF DESCENT FROM 5000 FEET. UPON ARRIVING AT 2500 FEET THE PILOT APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, BUT REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE FULL POWER FAILED, AND THE PILOT SELECTED A NEARBY ROAD FOR THE FORCED LANDING. DURING THE APPROACH DESCENT TO LAND, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AVAILABLE TO MAKE A SAFE LANDING ON THE ROAD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A STAND OF TREES SHORT OF AN ALTERNATE LANDING SITE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE IMPACT, UPON RETURNING TO THE AIRPLANE THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO REVEAL A MECHANICAL PROBLEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/14/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GREENVILLE
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29615
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GREENVILLE DOWNTOWN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GMU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 1048
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 845 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID GMU
Elevation of weather observation facility 1038
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2100
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1166
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 14 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21380
NTSB Number ATL94LA138
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier 182P
Aircraft Serial Number 18261598
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
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 Apr 7 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 2222
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEWIS, RANDELL P.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 5 BOX 367A
Aircraft Owner City EASTMAN
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31023
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 EZM
Departure City EASTMAN
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 809
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 36
Runway Length 5392
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --