Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chandler, Arizona 85224
Sunday, May 23, 1982 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED CHANDLER, AZ WITH THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATING 40 PLUS GALLONS IN EACH TANK. AFTER A 1.2 HR FLIGHT TO LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ, THE GAUGES INDICATED 20 PLUS GALLONS IN EACH TANK. DURING THE RETURN TRIP TO CHANDLER AT NIGHT, BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER AFTER DESCENDING TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING. AT THAT TIME, BOTH FUEL GAUGES INDICATED 10 GALLONS REMAINING IN EACH TANK. THE PILOT SAW THE LIGHTS OF A CAR AND TRIED TO LINE UP ON ITS TAIL LIGHTS TO LAND ON THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THE PLANE STRUCK A POWERLINE, HIT THE TOP OF A TREE, AND THEN IMPACTED ON A LAWN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO INDICATION OF FUEL REMAINING IN EITHER TANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/23/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 57
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CHANDLER
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85224
Event Date Year 1982
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 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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 70
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1183
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 Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2091K
NTSB Number LAX82DA189
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-44-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-44-180
Aircraft Serial Number 44-79-9517
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 1250
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RONALD W. GILLESPIE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3100 S. FAIRWAY DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City TEMPE
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85282
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name VENTURE AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address CHANDLER AIRPORT
Operator City CHANDLER
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85224
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 LHU
Departure City LAKE HAVASU
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 2350
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code P1O
Destination City CHANDLER
Destination State AZ
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 4
Runway Length 3820
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --