Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elwell, Michigan 48832
Saturday, June 26, 1993 12:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A WITNESS REPORTED THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE THEN STRUCK AN OAK TREE AND CRASHED IN A CORN FIELD ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR OR CARBURETOR FUEL LINE. THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS ONE-HALF FULL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT MAIN TANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/26/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1225
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ELWELL
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48832
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 6
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 1150 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID LAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 860
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1620
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 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 1:22PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7779P
NTSB Number CHI93FA225
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-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-2996
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
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 Apr 5 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 3810
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD C. ISLES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1991 COUNTYLINE RD.
Aircraft Owner City ST. JOHNS
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48879
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1225
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AMN
Destination City ALMA
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --