Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Randleman, North Carolina 27317
Wednesday, August 12, 1992 17:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE LEFT POSITION, AND WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED HE DID NOT SWITCH THE SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT TANK. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE LEFT TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY AND THE RIGHT TANK HAD FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO SWITCH THE FUEL SELECTOR TO A TANK WITH FUEL, AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City RANDLEMAN
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27317
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 8
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1752 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID GSO
Elevation of weather observation facility 926
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2676
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47476
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3544W
NTSB Number MIA92LA162
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-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-431
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 1900 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HIGH PLACE MINISTRIES INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 29
Aircraft Owner City WHITSETT
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27377
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROGER MEDLIN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2311 WESTOVER TERRACE
Operator City BURLINGTON
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27215
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 EXX
Departure City LEXINGTON
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1505
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BUY
Destination City BURLINGTON
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --