Lehigh Acres West Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Myers, Florida 33906
Sunday, April 17, 1988 12:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE, ON A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLT, THE ALTERNATOR BELT BROKE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER WHICH THE PLT DID NOT RECOGNIZE BEFORE THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DRAINED. DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING THE ACFT LANDED HARD RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE BECAME OVER-ANXIOUS TO LAND THE ACFT & SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT WORKING & THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DRAINED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/17/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FORT MYERS
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33906
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LEHIGH ACRES WEST
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X56
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 23
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 203
Weather Observation Facility ID RSW
Elevation of weather observation facility 31
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1700
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) 510
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 27 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1438
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36330
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:41AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2032M
NTSB Number MIA88LA204
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-32-300
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-300
Aircraft Serial Number 32 7840077
Certified Max Gross Weight 3500
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 29 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours 1286
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MC MULLAN, THOMAS A
Aircraft Owner Street Address 509 11 ST., N.W.
Aircraft Owner City LARGO
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33540
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MCMULLAN, THOMAS A
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 509 11TH ST., N.W.
Operator City LARGO
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33540
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 PIE
Departure City ST PETERSBURG
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FXE
Destination City FORT LAUDERDALE
Destination State FL
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 22
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --