Richmond Int. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sandston, Virginia 23150
Sunday, December 1, 1991 18:34 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOTS DEPARTED WITH FULL FUEL TANKS FOR THEIR FIVE HOUR FLIGHT. THEY WERE GIVEN SEVERAL ALTITUDE CHANGES WHICH AT TIMES, PUT THEM INTO GREATER THAN EXPECTED HEAD WINDS. THEY ALSO WERE GIVEN ONE SIGNIFICANT OFF COURSE VECTOR. LATER IN THE FLIGHT, THEY ELECTED TO STOP SHORT OF THEIR DESTINATION FOR FUEL. DURING THEIR ILS APPROACH IN IMC CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND THEY CRASHED INTO A PARTIALLY WOODED AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE PILOTS SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCE LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/1/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1834
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SANDSTON
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23150
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RICHMOND INT.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RIC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 6
Degrees magnetic from airport 160
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1830 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID RIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 168
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 400
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1633
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45321
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5174P
NTSB Number BFO92FA011
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-24-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-180
Aircraft Serial Number 24-193
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 Nov 4 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL KROLL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 52 EAST ST
Aircraft Owner City BRISTOL
Aircraft Owner State VT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 05443
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MICHAEL KROLL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 52 EAST ST
Operator City BRISTOL
Operator State VT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 05443
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 6B0
Departure City MIDDLEBURY
Departure State UT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0AJ
Destination City JACKSONVILLE
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 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --