Ocean Springas Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564
Monday, June 16, 2003 10:13 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that during the takeoff/initial climb, while near the end of the runway, at an altitude of 150 feet, the airplane's engine began to sputter and act as if it was going to cease operating. He stated that he glanced at the fuel selector switch and confirmed that it appeared to be at the proper position, and he then started pumping the throttle. He said the engine seemed as if it would "recover" but as he continued to pump the throttle, the engine finally ceased operating. He said he then maneuvered to avoid obstacles and executed a forced landing into the marsh. During the landing the airplane flipped over its back and was damaged. After recovery from the marsh, an FAA examiner examined the accident airplane, and the examination revealed that the fuel selector valve had been set beyond the "right tank" detent, which when tested, prevented the flow of fuel to the engine. In addition, the inspector said that the pilot told him that he had problems previously with the engine ceasing to operate when the fuel selector valve was in the "right tank" position, so he had been rotating it beyond the detent for the "right tank" position and had experienced no problems since. The inspector stated that records revealed that the accident airplane had last received an annual inspection on May 10, 1997.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to starvation as a result of the pilot's continued operation of an airplane with known deficiencies.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1013
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Ocean Springs
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39564
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 302336N
Event Location Longitude 0884520W
Event Location Airport Ocean Springas Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5R2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 20
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PQL
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) 1700
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15225
NTSB Notification Source FAA ATL Comm. Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 16 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1258
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Jackson, Mississippi

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8378W
NTSB Number MIA03LA133
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-2579
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Nov 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 4592
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Partick J. Hill
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3235 Sandy Lane
Aircraft Owner City Pensacola
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32526
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 5R2
Departure City Ocean Springs
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1012
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 5R2
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Feb 9 2004 3:37PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --