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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

March 22, 1991 · Piper PA-24-180 · N888G

Pasadena, TX

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 22, 1991
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
Pasadena, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-180
Tail Number
N888G
Operator
Channel Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW91FA055

The airplane experienced an engine failure due to fuel exhaustion while on final between the FAF and the threshold on a second ILS approach in night IMC after a flight of 5.1 hours. A missed approach was executed on the first when the pilot deviated beyond limits both in altitude and course. The pilot had flight planned 3:45 ETE and indicated that he had 6:00 hours of fuel on board. The fuel exhaustion time corresponded with performance data provided in the airplane owner's handbook. Although he received a weather briefing prior to departure and obtained weather en route, the pilot did not request wind aloft information. The flight encountered 35 to 40 knot head winds throughout the trip and on 4 separate occasions the controllers asked the pilot if he had enough fuel to reach his destination. During the final leg of the flight the pilot overflew at least 3 suitable alternate airports. Following the engine failure, the pilot allowed the airplane to stall and it subsequently impacted the ground in steep nose down, left wing leading attitude.

NTSB Probable Cause

POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION RESULTANT FROM THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AT AN ALTERNATE DESTINATION AND THE INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT AND WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Full Narrative

THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WHILE ON FINAL BETWEEN THE FAF AND THE THRESHOLD ON A SECOND ILS APPROACH IN NIGHT IMC AFTER A FLIGHT OF 5.1 HOURS. A MISSED APPROACH WAS EXECUTED ON THE FIRST WHEN THE PILOT DEVIATED BEYOND LIMITS BOTH IN ALTITUDE AND COURSE. THE PILOT HAD FLIGHT PLANNED 3:45 ETE AND INDICATED THAT HE HAD 6:00 HOURS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE FUEL EXHAUSTION TIME CORRESPONDED WITH PERFORMANCE DATA PROVIDED IN THE AIRPLANE OWNER'S HANDBOOK. ALTHOUGH HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND OBTAINED WEATHER EN ROUTE, THE PILOT DID NOT REQUEST WIND ALOFT INFORMATION. THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED 35 TO 40 KNOT HEAD WINDS THROUGHOUT THE TRIP AND ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CONTROLLERS ASKED THE PILOT IF HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO REACH HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE FINAL LEG OF THE FLIGHT THE PILOT OVERFLEW AT LEAST 3 SUITABLE ALTERNATE AIRPORTS. FOLLOWING THE ENGINE FAILURE, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO STALL AND IT SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN STEEP NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LEADING ATTITUDE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time22:25 CST
Nearest AirportEllington Field (2nm N)
Runway17
Runway Length9000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-180
Tail NumberN888G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorChannel Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind180° @ 10 kt, gusting 18 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 200 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time04:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data