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March 29, 1982 · Piper PA-24-250 · N9LT

Macon, GA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 29, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Macon, GA
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N9LT
Operator
Larry E Thayer
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL82DA088

The non-instrument rated pilot reported departing Ft Lauderdale, FL with 4 hrs of fuel on board on a 40 minute flight to Okeechobee, FL. The next day, he departed Okeechobee without refueling on a flight to Macon, GA. He reported that he had to climb to 10,500 ft to avoid clouds and maintain VFR. While en route, he found himself over a cloud layer. With 40 hours of instrument experience, he elected to descend and land at Macon. The pilot was vectored and cleared for an ILS approach. Approach control noted that the pilot did not descend below 1600 ft as he approached and overflew the airport. The airport elevation was 354 ft. He initiated a missed approach, and shortly thereafter, reported that he had run out of fuel. He was vectored back toward the airport, but was unable to reach the runway. About three hours and 5 minutes after takeoff the plane struck wires as the pilot was landing in a wheat field. After hitting the wires, he was able to maintain control until after touchdown.

Full Narrative

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT REPORTED DEPARTING FT LAUDERDALE, FL WITH 4 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD ON A 40 MINUTE FLIGHT TO OKEECHOBEE, FL. THE NEXT DAY, HE DEPARTED OKEECHOBEE WITHOUT REFUELING ON A FLIGHT TO MACON, GA. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD TO CLIMB TO 10,500 FT TO AVOID CLOUDS AND MAINTAIN VFR. WHILE EN ROUTE, HE FOUND HIMSELF OVER A CLOUD LAYER. WITH 40 HOURS OF INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCE, HE ELECTED TO DESCEND AND LAND AT MACON. THE PILOT WAS VECTORED AND CLEARED FOR AN ILS APPROACH. APPROACH CONTROL NOTED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT DESCEND BELOW 1600 FT AS HE APPROACHED AND OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION WAS 354 FT. HE INITIATED A MISSED APPROACH, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, REPORTED THAT HE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL. HE WAS VECTORED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. ABOUT THREE HOURS AND 5 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLANE STRUCK WIRES AS THE PILOT WAS LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD. AFTER HITTING THE WIRES, HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL UNTIL AFTER TOUCHDOWN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:25 EST
Nearest AirportLewis B. Wilson (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN9LT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLarry E Thayer
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1D5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 45 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 11 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point12 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:29

Appendix: Source Data