Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yantis, Texas 75497
Thursday, October 31, 1985 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT CONTACTED A TREE AND A LARGE BALE OF HAY DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED 18 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE LEFT MAIN TANK AND 3 GALLONS REMAINED IN THE LEFT WING TIP TANK.BOTH RIGHT WING FUEL TANKS WERE RUPTURED. A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES AND THE FUEL STRAINER BOWL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS EMPTY. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR REVEALED THE VALVE SEAT TO THERIGHT TIP TANK WAS COATED WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS PREVENTING THE VALVE FORM SEATING. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TO DRAW AIR WHEN THE RIGHT TIP TANK WAS EMPTIED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/31/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City YANTIS
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75497
Event Date Year 1985
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1720 GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID TYLE
Elevation of weather observation facility 544
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation GMT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
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) 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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2232
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 31 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29604
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 N9348W
NTSB Number FTW86FPA03
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-235
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-235
Aircraft Serial Number 28-11035
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 11 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 56
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MILLER AIRCRAFT INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 198
Operator City PHILLIPSBURG
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95354
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3R3
Departure City AUSTIN
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone CE
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3I7
Destination City PHILLIPSBURG
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --