Pearland Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Houston, Texas 77581
Saturday, October 13, 2007 16:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot initiated an intersection takeoff while the fuel selector was between fuel tank detents. Shortly after takeoff, the engine experienced fuel starvation followed by a complete loss of engine power. During the forced landing, the left wing impacted a tree and the airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to properly position the fuel tank selector before takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the non suitable terrain for the forced landing and fuel starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/13/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Houston
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77581
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 293116N
Event Location Longitude 0951431W
Event Location Airport Pearland Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LVJ
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 44
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LVJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 44
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.9
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 23359
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 13 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2008 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Houston, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9733P
NTSB Number DFW08LA013
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-25-260
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 25-7556049
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 5000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Night Hawk Aerial Advertising
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1627 County Road 130
Aircraft Owner City Pearland
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77581
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) Banner Tow
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LVJ
Departure City Pearland
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 27 2008 11:16AM
User who most recently changed record GAMW
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 4313
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --