Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Greer, South Carolina 29651
Monday, December 27, 1993 18:23 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON APPROACH FOR GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG AIRPORT WHEN THE PILOT ADVISED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT HE HAD TWENTY MINUTES OF FUEL LEFT. ATC OFFERED VECTORS TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WHICH WAS THREE MILES FROM HIS POSITION, BUT THE PILOT DECLINED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE PILOT REQUESTED A DIVERSION TO THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT , WHICH ATC APPROVED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD LOST ENGINE POWER AND WOULD HAVE TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY LANDING. ATC ADVISED THE PILOT OF A HIGHWAY LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM HIS POSITION. DURING THE EMERGENCY APPROACH, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO AVOID ONCOMING AUTOMOTIVE TRAFFIC AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED CALCULATING TWENTY MINUTES OF RESERVE FUEL DURING PREFLIGHT PLANNING. HE STATED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT, HE OBSERVED THAT HIS ACTUAL TIME ENROUTE WAS LESS THAN HE HAD PLANNED, AND THOUGHT HE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HIS USE OF 75% POWER DURING THE FLIGHT INSTEAD OF 65% HE HAD USED FOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND THE ADDITIONAL FUEL BURN AS A RESULT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING IN DETERMINING FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/27/1993
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1823
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GREER
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29651
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 12
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 1752 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID GSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 972
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
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 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) 2100
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 27 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1928
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4320X
NTSB Number ATL94LA034
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-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7690003
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 24 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 149
Airframe Hours 2364
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DEMYAN, JOHN E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 214 THIRD AVENUE, S.W.
Aircraft Owner City GLEN BURNIE
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21061
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 BWI
Departure City BALTIMORE
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 --