Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Vandalia, Ohio 45890
Sunday, October 17, 1982 21:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD 40 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE DEPARTED PARKERSBURG, WV FOR NEW CARLISLE, OH. DURING A NIGHT ARRIVAL AT NEW CARLISLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS BY KEYING HIS MICROPHONE. THEREFORE, HE DIVERTED TO VANDALIA, OH. AFTER LANDING, HE MADE A TELEPHONE CALL TO ARRANGE FOR THE RUNWAY LIGHTS TO BE TURNED ON MANUALLY AT NEW CARLISLE. AFTER A SHORT WAIT, THE PILOT TOOK OFF AGAIN FOR NEW CARLISLE. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GET A RESTART. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE CRASHED LANDED IN A SOY BEAN FIELD. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THERE WAS FUEL IN BOTH AUXILIARY (TIP) TANKS, ABOUT 5.5 GAL IN THE RIGHT MAIN TANK, 1 PINT IN THE LEFT MAIN, BUT NO FUEL IN THE LINE FROM THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TO THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT MAIN POSITION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THIS WAS THE TANK HE SELECTED FOR TAKEOFF AND WAS ALSO THE TANK POSITION SELECTED WHEN HE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF POWER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/17/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City VANDALIA
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45890
Event Date Year 1982
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 42
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 2
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2376
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 Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4740S
NTSB Number CHI83LA020
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-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-32-260
Aircraft Serial Number 32-1172
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
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 0
Airframe Hours 2510
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS E. FULTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 422 E. DAYTON YELLOW SPRING RD
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBORN
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45324
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS E. FULTON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 422 E. DAYTON YELLOW SPRING RD
Operator City FAIRBORN
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 45324
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 DAV
Departure City VANDALIA
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 2128
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State OH
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --