Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Burlington, North Carolina 27215
Friday, January 13, 1995 9:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED BURLINGTON ON THE PREVIOUS DAY ON A ROUND TRIP FLIGHT TO COLUMBUS, OHIO. HE WAS TOLD PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN TWO TENTHS OF AN HOUR AFTER HAVING BEEN REFUELED. HE LOOKED AT THE FUEL GAUGES, AND BOTH GAUGES WERE BETWEEN 3/4 AND FULL. HE NEVER VISUALLY INSPECTED THE FUEL TANKS TO DETERMINE THE QUANTITY OF FUEL IN THE TANKS. DURING HIS APPROACH INTO BURLINGTON, THE RIGHT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A HIGHWAY. DURING THE BASE LEG TO THE EMERGENCY LANDING SITE, THE LEFT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TRANSMISSION LINES AND CRASHED JUST SHORT OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO RESIDUAL FUEL FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE, OR ON THE GROUND WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper pre-flight inspection, in that he failed to visually confirm the fuel quantity prior to departure.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/13/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BURLINGTON
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27215
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 1
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 854 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID GSO
Elevation of weather observation facility 926
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 13 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1040
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7144Z
NTSB Number ATL95LA039
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7952150
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
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 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 5 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 10036
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROCHE BIOMEDICAL LABORATORIES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 231 MAPLE AVE.
Aircraft Owner City BURLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27215
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OSU
Departure City COLUMBUS
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 715
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BUY
Destination City
Destination State NC
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --