Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Farmerville, Louisiana 71241
Tuesady, August 20, 1985 14:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT TOOK OFF AND STARTED HIS CLIMBOUT WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR ON A FUEL TANK WHICH WAS VIRTUALLY EMPTY. THE ENG STOPPED REACHING AN ALT OF 200 FEET AGL. THE PLT MADE FORCED LANDING IN TREES. THERE WAS AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF FUEL (ABOUT 70 GALLONS) DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE OTHER THREE FUEL TANKS; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT ADEQUATE TIME TO SWITCH THE SELECTOR VALVE AND GET A RESTART BEFORE IMPACT OCCURRED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/20/1985
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City FARMERVILLE
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71241
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 8
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1445 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID MLU
Elevation of weather observation facility 79
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1629
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 20 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1550
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29006
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8050P
NTSB Number FTW85LA326
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-24-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-24-250
Aircraft Serial Number 24-3296
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours 2600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARCHIE PITEN
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 2, BOX 211
Aircraft Owner City MINDEN
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71055
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 F87
Departure City FARMERVILLE
Departure State LA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code F89
Destination City WINNSBORO
Destination State LA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --