Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Butler, Florida 32054
Sunday, May 29, 1983 11:51 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AT 0953 EDT, THE PLT DEPARTED ON AN IFR FLT WITH FULL FUEL TANKS. THE LEFT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS USED FOR APRX 1 HR, THEN THE RIGHT MAIN WAS SELECTED. JUST BEFORE STARTING A DESCENT, WHILE STILL USING THE RIGHT MAIN TANK, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS & TRIED TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. VFR CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED AT 1800 FT & A SMALL CLEARING (MOST SUITABLE AREA) WAS SELECTED FOR A LANDING. AS THE PLT UNLOCKED THE CABIN DOOR, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER UNLOCKED HER SEATBELT. THE ACFT WAS HEADING FOR A HOUSE BEYOND THE CLEARING, SO THE PLT DELIBERATELY HIT A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING. THE PASSENGER, WHO UNLOCKED HER SEAT BELT, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. AN EXAM REVEALED A RUDDER CONNECTOR IN THE RIGHT VENT LINE HAD DETERIORATED & HAD BLOCKED THE VENT & THE RUDDER FLAPPER IN THE VENTED FUEL CAP WASSTUCK. THE MAINT FACILITY, THE OWNER WAS USING, HAD OUTDATED MANUALS WHICH DID NOT CALL FOR REQUIRED INSPECTION OF VENT HOSES. FUEL SELECTOR FOUND ON R MAIN POSITION, PLT UNSURE WHER/HOW LONG SHE POSITIONED SELECTOR DURING ATMTD ENG RESTART

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/29/1983
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1151
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LAKE BUTLER
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32054
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 5
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1158 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 175
Weather Observation Facility ID GNV
Elevation of weather observation facility 152
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
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 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2027
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22379
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N43499
NTSB Number MIA83FA148
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7400044
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 59
Airframe Hours 3873
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AUGUSTA AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address DANIEL FIELD
Aircraft Owner City AUGUSTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30909
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MARLA LYNN GALLOWAY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1217 WOOD VALLEY ROAD
Operator City AUGUSTA
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30909
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 DNL
Departure City AUGUSTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GNV
Destination City GAINESVILLE
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 10:36AM
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 --