Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-151 near Spencer, MA — 2010-12-22

Final reportERA11FA094
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Date
2010-12-22
Location
Spencer, MA, USA
Airport
60M
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-151
Registration
N30ZZ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The in-flight collision with a tree while returning to land for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

Prior to departure, the pilot allowed minimal time for the engine to warm up (0.1 hour elapsed for the accident flight, as indicated by the hour meter). While there were no eyewitnesses who saw the departure or accident, one individual located east-northeast of the departure end of the runway heard a loud sound that she attributed to a northerly departure and then heard a sound that she associated with a backfire. Another individual reported hearing a surging or sputtering sound from the engine, followed by silence. About 850 feet from the approach end of the runway opposite the takeoff runway, the left wing collided with a tree. The airplane then descended, rolled inverted and impacted the ground. Both wing fuel tanks were breached during the accident and the amount of fuel on board the airplane at the time of the accident could not be determined. The right tank was selected to supply fuel to the engine, and first responders reported that fuel was leaking from that (breached) tank at the accident site. Examination of the flight controls, engine, engine systems, and fuel supply system revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The flight previous to the accident flight occurred 7 weeks prior. At the end of that flight, the fuel quantity gauges indicated both fuel tanks were about 1/4 full. However, given the elapsed time for the accident flight, it is unlikely that the engine experienced fuel exhaustion.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not check fuel levels before takeoff, leading to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 37 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents37

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