Grand Strand Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582
Friday, August 1, 2008 15:46 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot flew the airplane for 45 minutes after filling the fuel tanks, then secured the airplane. Before the next departure, the operator advised the pilot twice to fuel the airplane; however, it was not fueled. The pilot departed on a banner-tow flight, during which time he reported monitoring the fuel level. Approximately 1 to 2 minutes after noticing the left and right fuel quantity gauges indicated "1/4" and "1/3" capacity respectively, the engine sputtered once then lost power. He notified air traffic control, released the banner, and ditched the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed that no fuel was present in the airplane's fuel tanks or carburetor. An unquantified amount of fuel was found in the gascolator.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/1/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1546
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City N. Myrtle Beach
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29582
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334842N
Event Location Longitude 0784326W
Event Location Airport Grand Strand Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CRE
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CRE
Elevation of weather observation facility 32
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3600
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.8
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) 24996
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 4 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 12 2009 3:57PM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Columbia, SC

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3424M
NTSB Number MIA08LA158
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-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 12-2288
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 28 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 105753
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BARNSTORMER FLITE SIGNS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 1544
Aircraft Owner City NORTH MYRTLE BEACH
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29598-1544
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BARNSTORMER FLITE SIGNS INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 1544
Operator City NORTH MYRTLE BEACH
Operator State SC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 29598-1544
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 CRE
Departure City N. Myrtle Beach
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 11 2009 7:41AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --