Tuscaloosa Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Northport, Alabama 35476
Sunday, November 29, 1987 12:10 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BEFORE REACHING THE ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED DURING AN EMERG LANDING ON AN EMBANKMENT ABOUT 1.5 MI SHORT OF RWY 29. ONLY ABOUT 1 CUP OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN EACH FUEL TANK. THE PLT THOUGHT THERE WAS ABOUT 12 GAL OF FUEL REMAINING BEFORE THE ENG LOST POWER. HOWEVER, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER NOTED THAT THE LEFT & RGT TANK GAUGES WERE INDICATING 'EMPTY' & THE CENTER GAUGE WAS INDICATING WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS 10 TO 12 GAL OF FUEL. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ONLY 2 FUEL TANKS & HAD NO 3RD AUX TANK. THE CENTER GAUGE WAS A FUEL SYS PRESSURE GAUGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/29/1987
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1210
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City NORTHPORT
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35476
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TUSCALOOSA MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TCL
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 170
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1210 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID TCL
Elevation of weather observation facility 170
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
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) 29
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2210
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 30 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 35770
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8121T
NTSB Number ATL88LA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
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 288090143
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 Apr 10 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 96
Airframe Hours 925
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JANECZKO/ GREGORY F
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3742 SUGAR HILL ST
Aircraft Owner City SPRINGFIELD
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65804
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GREGORY F. JANECZKO
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3742 SUGARHILL STREET
Operator City SPRINGFIELD
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 65804
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 ORL
Departure City ORLANDO
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 842
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 29
Runway Length 4001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --