Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Troy, Alabama 36079
Thursday, October 23, 2003 17:14 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot receiving flight instruction was on approach for landing at 200 feet and 1/2 mile from the end of the runway when the engine quit. The certified flight instructor (CFI) took over the controls, switched the fuel tanks, and attempted an engine restart with negative results. The CFI stated he raised the flaps and landing gear, and the airplane collided with trees and the ground. Neither the pilot receiving instruction nor the CFI could remember what fuel tank they had started the accident flight on. Examination of the airplane revealed the right wing was detached at the wing root. The right fuel tank was not ruptured and no fuel was present on the ground. Five gallons of fuel was recovered from the right wing. The pilot and CFI estimated they had 26 gallons in each fuel tank upon departure. The airplane flight manual indicates the airplane will hold 30 gallons in each fuel tank. The left fuel tank was not ruptured and no fuel was present in the fuel tank or ground. The landing gear was down. All linkage from the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls to the engine was intact and operable. The airplane was recovered for further examination. The left and right fuel tanks were filled with water and no leaks were observed. The propeller was removed and a test propeller installed. A fuel line from an external fuel source was connected at the left and right fuel finger screens, and the selector valve in the airplane was placed in the left and right fuel position for each engine start. The engine started in both positions, ran, and developed power.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The certified flight instructor's improper fuel management resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation resulting in a forced landing, in-flight collision with trees and ground.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 10/23/2003 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 1714 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Troy |
| Event State | ALABAMA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 36079 |
| Event Date Year | 2003 |
| Event Date Month | 10 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 315150N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0860050W |
| 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 | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Full |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1753 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 200 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | TOI |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 397 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 1 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| 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) | 26 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 8 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 220 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 7 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.85 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | 26711 |
| 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 | 3 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 3 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 17094 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Communications Center |
| NTSB Notification Date | Oct 23 2003 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1820 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jan 27 2005 3:52PM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\JOHB |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Birmingham FSDO-09 |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N5920P |
| NTSB Number | ATL04LA024 |
| 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-24-250 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 24-1007 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2800 |
| 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 | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Oct 22 2003 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 4 |
| Airframe Hours | 4339 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | J Douglas Properties Inc. |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 18018 Memorial Estes Drive |
| Aircraft Owner City | Spring |
| Aircraft Owner State | TX |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 72379 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | Kevin R. Thien |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | 137 Salcoa Highlands |
| Operator City | Jasper |
| Operator State | GA |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 30143 |
| 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) | Instructional |
| Second Pilot on Board | Yes |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | ARA |
| Departure City | New Iberia |
| Departure State | LA |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1445 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | TOI |
| Destination City | Troy |
| Destination State | AL |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Approach - VFR pattern - final approach |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | Mar 10 2004 10:43AM |
| User who most recently changed record | POWP |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | -- |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |