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August 26, 1987 · Piper PA-38-112 · N2316D

Vero Beach, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 26, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Vero Beach, FL
Aircraft
Piper PA-38-112
Tail Number
N2316D
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA87FA234

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON AN APRX 380 MI SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT FM VERO BEACH (VRB) TO NAPLES (APF), BROOKSVILLE (BKV) & BACK TO VRB. HE THOUGHT HE HAD PLENTY OF FUEL FOR THE FLT & ELECTED TO DEP W/O TAKING A CREDIT CARD (FOR FUEL). WHEN HE LNDD AT APF & BKV, HE DID NOT REFUEL. ON THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT (ALONG A SOUTHEASTERLY ROUTE) FM BKV TO VRB, THE STUDENT CTCD THE VRB FSS & RPRTD HE WAS UNSURE OF HIS PSN & REQD A DF STEER. HE WAS GIVEN A 060 DEG HDG TO THE DESTN ARPT. HE VISUALLY ACQUIRED THE ARPT ENVIRONMENT, BUT BFR ARRIVING, THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE STUDENT TRIED TO GLIDE TO A RWY,BUT WAS UNABLE. HE SELECTED AN OPEN FIELD FOR AN EMERG LNDG. WHILE MNVRG TO LND, HE MOMENTARILY LOST CTL OF THE ACFT AS HE WAS TURNING TO AVOID A 125' TOWER. HE REGAINED CTL AFTER THE ACFT ENTERED A DIVE, BUT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID IMPACTINGTHE GND. THE STUDENT HAD CALCULATED THE TOTAL DISTANCE OF THE FLT AS 280 (INSTEAD OF 380) MI. NEITHER HE NOR HIS CFI NOTICED THE ERROR. SVRL OTHER ARPTS WERE LOCATED ALONG THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT.

Full Narrative

THE STUDENT PLT WAS ON AN APRX 380 MI SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT FM VERO BEACH (VRB) TO NAPLES (APF), BROOKSVILLE (BKV) & BACK TO VRB. HE THOUGHT HE HAD PLENTY OF FUEL FOR THE FLT & ELECTED TO DEP W/O TAKING A CREDIT CARD (FOR FUEL). WHEN HE LNDD AT APF & BKV, HE DID NOT REFUEL. ON THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT (ALONG A SOUTHEASTERLY ROUTE) FM BKV TO VRB, THE STUDENT CTCD THE VRB FSS & RPRTD HE WAS UNSURE OF HIS PSN & REQD A DF STEER. HE WAS GIVEN A 060 DEG HDG TO THE DESTN ARPT. HE VISUALLY ACQUIRED THE ARPT ENVIRONMENT, BUT BFR ARRIVING, THE ACFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE STUDENT TRIED TO GLIDE TO A RWY,BUT WAS UNABLE. HE SELECTED AN OPEN FIELD FOR AN EMERG LNDG. WHILE MNVRG TO LND, HE MOMENTARILY LOST CTL OF THE ACFT AS HE WAS TURNING TO AVOID A 125' TOWER. HE REGAINED CTL AFTER THE ACFT ENTERED A DIVE, BUT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID IMPACTINGTHE GND. THE STUDENT HAD CALCULATED THE TOTAL DISTANCE OF THE FLT AS 280 (INSTEAD OF 380) MI. NEITHER HE NOR HIS CFI NOTICED THE ERROR. SVRL OTHER ARPTS WERE LOCATED ALONG THE LAST LEG OF THE FLT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:35 EDT
Nearest AirportVero Beach (2nm WSW)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-38-112
Tail NumberN2316D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 112
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 18 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 12 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:39
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data