Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Orangeburg, South Carolina 29116
Monday, March 7, 1988 18:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ENGINE LOST PWR AS THE AIRPLANE WAS RETURNING FROM A FIRE-PATROL FLT. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LDG IN A FIELD WHERE THE AIRPLANE RAN INTO SOFT DIRT AND NOSED OVER. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FUEL RAMAINING IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE EXAM ALSO REVEALED THAT THE LEFT TANK FUEL CAP GASKET WAS MISSING AND THAT A LARGE FUEL STAIN EXISTED IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT TANK FILLER OPENING. THE PLT RPTD THAT HE HAD DEPARTED W/ FULL TANKS WHICH HE HAD VISUALLY CONFIRMED. HE INITIALLY OPERATED ON THE LT TANK FOR 1.5 HRS THEN SWITCHED TO THE RT TANK FOR 2.1 HRS. WHEN THE RT TANK RAN DRY HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE LT TANK BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT REGAIN PWR. THE PLT NOTED THAT AFTER PRIOR PATROL FLTS LASTING ABOUT 3.5 HRS, THE ACFT WOULD HAVE 5-6 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. HE NORMALLY ESTIMATED FUEL REMAINING BY THE KNOWN AVG CONSUMPTION RATE OF THE ENGINE AND ELAPSED TIME. HE DID NOT GO BY FUEL GAUGE INDICATIONS BECAUSE THE GAUGES WEREN'T 'THAT ACCURATE'.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/7/1988
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1805
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ORANGEBURG
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29116
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 3
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 655
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 14 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1055
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36522
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8994Y
NTSB Number ATL88LA114
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-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 187409136
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 61
Airframe Hours 6782
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SC STATE COMMISSION OF FOREST
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5500 BROAD RIVER ROAD BOX21707
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBIA
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29221
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SC STATE COMMISSION FORESTRY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5500 BROAD RIVER ROAD
Operator City COLUMBIA
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29221
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
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 --