Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Orlando, Florida 32806
Thursday, October 25, 1990 12:47 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT STATED HE PERFORMED FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS FOR THE FLT & DETERMINED THAT THE ENDURACE ACCORDING TO THE ACFT PERFORMANCE CHARTS, WAS 5 HRS 42 MINUTES. THE FLT DEPARTED WITH FULL FUEL TANKS & WHEN IT WAS APRX 6 MILES NORTH OF THE DESTINATION ARPT, THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH THEN QUIT. HE RESTARTED IT & ADVISED ATC THAT THE ACFT WAS LOW ON FUEL BUT THE ENG QUIT AGAIN. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT & DUE TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, ELECTED TO DITCH THE ACFT IN A LAKE SHORT OF THE ARPT. ALL OCCUPANTS ESCAPED THE ACFT & WERE RESCUED A SHORT TIME LATER. THE ELAPSED TIME FROM DEPARTURE TO THE ACCIDENT WAS 4 HRS 32 MINUTES. THE PLT FURTHER STATED THAT THE ACFT'S CLOCK WAS 30-40 MINUTES SLOW & THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INACCURATE. HE STATED HIS PROCEDURE FOR LEANING THE FUEL/AIR MIXTURE IS TO PULL THE MIXTURE CONTROL UNTIL THE ENG BEGINS TO RUN ROUGH THEN PUSH IT IN UNTIL THE ENG RUNS SMOOTH. THE ACFT'S PERFORMANCE CHARTS USE AN EGT GAGE (WHICH WAS INSTALLED) AS A REFERENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE PLANNING BY THE PILOT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/25/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1247
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ORLANDO
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32806
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1248 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID ORL
Elevation of weather observation facility 113
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1635
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 25 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1329
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42967
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21175
NTSB Number MIA91LA016
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-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7990037
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARMON, ROBERT & SHARON E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 42 HILLCREST DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City STAFFORD
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22554
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name QUANTICO MARINE CORPS FLYING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 275
Operator City QUANTICO
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 22134
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 EQY
Departure City MONROE
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --