Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mankato, Minnesota 56001
Wednesday, November 11, 1992 18:25 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE IN AN EXTENDED TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND AT THE CONCLUSION OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE COUGHED AND BEGAN WINDMILLING. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED POWER LINES. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED ON THE LEFT TANK WHICH CONTAINED 12 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE RIGHT TANK WAS SEVERED BY THE POWER LINES AND FOUND EMPTY. A DEPUTY WHO ARRIVED AT THE SCENE JUST AFTER THE ACCIDENT STATED IT DID NOT APPEAR AS THOUGH ANY FUEL HAD DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT TANK. THE PILOT STATED HE TOOK OFF ON THE LEFT TANK, SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT AFTER APRX 1 HOUR, THEN SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT APRX 8 MILES FROM LANDING. THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, NEXT TO THE SELECTOR, STATED THE PILOT ONLY SWITCHED TANKS ONCE DURING THE FLIGHT. THE LOCATION OF BLOOD SPLATTERS AND A PUNCTURE MARK ON THE FUEL SELECTOR SUGGEST THE SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON THE RIGHT TANK WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SELECT A PROPER FUEL SELECTOR POSITION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/11/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1825
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MANKATO
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56001
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 11
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 1854 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID MKT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1020
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 2751
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 12 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47536
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N15609
NTSB Number CHI93LA030
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-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7305096
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 2480
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GENE D. PINTO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 500 DAKOTA AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City WAHPOTON
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58075
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NORTHSTAR AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT 5, BOX 120
Operator City MANKATO
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 56001
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 MBY
Departure City MOBERLY
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CST
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 10:35AM
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 --