Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Milton, Florida 32583
Monday, September 17, 2007 11:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Before takeoff an individual other than the pilot "sticked" each fuel tank for quantity, but the stick had not been calibrated. The pilot estimated that he had 60-65 gallons of fuel on-board for the intended 1 hour 20 minute flight. After takeoff the flight climbed to 5,500 feet, where he positioned each fuel selector to the auxiliary position. The flight continued and while descending when near the destination airport, both engines lost power due to fuel starvation. The pilot repositioned both fuel selectors to each main position, which restored engine power. He notified air traffic control, who vectored the flight to a military grass landing strip. With both engines developing power, the pilot landed to the east but touched down approximately 3,725 feet past the western edge of the grass field. The airplane collided with a fence and came to rest upright approximately 1,200 feet from the first touchdown point. Examination of the airplane revealed 14.75 gallons of fuel drained from the left fuel tanks, and 3.0 gallons of fuel drained from the right fuel tanks. No fuel leakage was noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to attain the proper touchdown point during the precautionary landing resulting in the on-ground collision with fence posts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/2007
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Milton
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32583
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 304073N
Event Location Longitude 0865262W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KPNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
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 --
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22638
NTSB Notification Source Birmingham FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Sep 18 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2007 6:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham, Alabama

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8751Y
NTSB Number MIA07LA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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-30
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 30-1904
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40.65
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name USA Credit Corporation
Aircraft Owner Street Address 558 Highway 51N
Aircraft Owner City Ridgeland
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39157
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Ronald C. Smith
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 No
Departure Airport Code M16
Departure City Raymond
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1014
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KDTS
Destination City Destin
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 6 2007 2:38PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --