Syracuse Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Syracuse, New York
Friday, March 12, 1982 12:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WITH A LITTER PATIENT AND 3 OTHER PASSENGERS ONBOARD. THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK WAS USED FOR ABOUT THE FIRST 30 MINUTES OF FLIGHT, THEN THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE LEFT MAIN TANK. WHILE EN ROUTE, AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS OBTAINED WHEN THE DESTINATION WEATHER DID NOT IMPROVE TO VFR CONDITIONS AS FORECAST. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT BEFORE DESCENDING INTO THE CLOUDS FOR AN ILS APPROACH, HE PERFORMED A BEFORE LANDING CHECK AND SWITCHED BACK TO THE RIGHT MAIN FUEL TANK.THE ENGINE LOST POWER ABRUPTLY WHILE ON THE APPROACH. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT HE SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TIP TANK, AND THEN LATER, BACK TO THE RIGHT MAIN TANK, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE. AS THE AIRCRAFT BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER TO A CLEARING, BUT THE PLANE STRUCK TREES AND CRASHED. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE LEFT TANK WHICH HAD ABOUT 3 PINTS OF FUEL REMAINING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/1982
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SYRACUSE
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport SYRACUSE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SYR
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 99
Weather Observation Facility ID SYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 5
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 5
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 801
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N260BB
NTSB Number NYC82FFJ12
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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-32
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7400045
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2131
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JONANNA JONES
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 1, BOX 287A
Aircraft Owner City CHARLESTON
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PROFESSIONAL PILOTS INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City WINCHESTER
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code W16
Departure City WINCHESTER
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City MCCOLLUM
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 --