Space Coast Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Titusville, Florida 32796
Monday, February 28, 2000 15:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After receiving serious injuries during the accident, the pilot couldn't recall the details of the flight. According to the pilot-rated passenger, fuel was not available at the departure airport. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane lost engine power while on approach to their destination airport. The pilot executed an off-field emergency landing short of runway 18. During an examination of the fuel system, approximately one pint of fuel was recovered from the right outboard fuel tank, and no fuel was recovered from the remaining tanks. The local fire department reported to the FAA inspector that when they arrived on-scene there was no odor of fuel, nor was there any evidence of fuel being spilled from the airplane. An examination of the wreckage failed to disclose any mechanical malfunctions or component failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper decision to attempt a flight on minimal fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the closed fuel pumps at the departure airport.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/28/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City TITUSVILLE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32796
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SPACE COAST REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TIX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 35
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1315 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TIX
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
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 Serious
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 --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 40
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 28 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 1:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N441WA
NTSB Number ATL00LA029
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-23-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-160
Aircraft Serial Number 23-1944
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 5
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 19 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7478
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MERCADO HOLDINGS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 480 N. WILLIAMS AV
Aircraft Owner City TITUSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32796
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 X21
Departure City
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TIX
Destination City
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 18
Runway Length 6001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --