Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Canton, Kentucky 42212
Monday, May 17, 1993 13:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD 25 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE DEPARTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO ACCURATELY VERIFY HIS FUEL LOAD BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS BELOW THE TAB IN THE TANKS USED FOR SIGHT MEASUREMENTS. ABOUT TWO HOURS AND 13 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DECIDED TO DITCH THE AIRPLANE IN A SHALLOW LAKE ABOUT FOUR MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE; THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT COMPROMISED AND CONTAINED ABOUT ONE QUART OF FUEL IN EACH TANK. THIS AMOUNT IS LESS THAN THE PUBLISHED USABLE FUEL QUANTITY FOR THE AIRPLANE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING WHEN DETERMINING HIS FUEL LOAD, WHICH LED TO AN EXHAUSTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SUPPLY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CANTON
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 42212
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 843
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 17 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6943W
NTSB Number BFO93LA094
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-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-21123
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 22 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 3585
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM ROBINSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 397 NORTH UNION
Aircraft Owner City RUSSIAVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46979
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM ROBINSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 397 NORTH UNION
Operator City RUSSIAVILLE
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46979
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 LMS
Departure City LOUISVILLE
Departure State MS
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
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 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 --