Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 8, 2006 · Piper PA-28-140 · N3454K

Nashville, TN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 8, 2006
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Nashville, TN
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N3454K
Operator
Arthur Quinn
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL06LA090

According to the pilot, the airplane was topped with fuel before a 30-minute local flight on June 4, 2006. On June 8th, the day of the accident, the airplane departed the Cornelia Fort Airpark for Smithville, Tennessee, a distance of 45 nautical miles. After a brief time on the ground in Smithville, the airplane departed for the return trip to Cornelia Fort Airpark. The pilot reported that on takeoff he smelled fuel but that the smell dissipated after he leveled off. About 20 minutes into the flight, the smell of fuel returned and the fuel pressure began to drop. The pilot switched to the left tank and the fuel smell subsided and the fuel pressure stabilized. As the airplane neared the destination airport, the fuel pressure began to drop again. The engine lost power while the airplane was on a downwind leg for runway 04. The pilot switched fuel tanks again but was unable to get the engine restarted. The pilot made an off-airport landing in dense brush and small trees short of the runway. Examination of the engine found the outlet fuel line from the engine-driven fuel pump to the carburetor disconnected at the fuel pump fitting. Fresh insect debris was found in the line and evidence indicated it entered the line after the accident and prior to examination. The debris was cleared from the line and the line was reconnected. The engine was primed and started. The engine started immediately and was run at 1,200 RPM for a few minutes before being shut down. The engine had been modified to deliver 160 HP and at that time had the fuel flow transducer installed in the fuel line between the fuel pump and carburetor. The aircraft had flown 49.5 hours since the modification which was done during the last annual inspection on September 5, 2005.

NTSB Probable Cause

Improper installation of the fuel line by maintenance personnel which resulted in the fuel line disconnecting and a loss of engine power during approach.

Full Narrative

On June 8, 2006, at 1227 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N3454K, registered to and operated by a private individual as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with trees during a forced landing following loss of engine power at the Cornelia Fort Airpark, Nashville, Tennessee. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Smithville Municipal Airport, Smithville, Tennessee, on June 8, 2006, at 1140. According to the pilot, the airplane was topped with fuel before a 30 minute local flight on June 4, 2006. On June 8th the day of the accident, the airplane departed the Cornelia Fort Airpark for Smithville, Tennessee, a distance of 45 nautical miles. After a brief time on the ground in Smithville the airplane departed for the return trip to Cornelia Fort Airpark. The pilot reported that on take-off he smelled fuel but that the smell dissipated after he leveled off. About 20 minutes into the flight the smell of fuel returned and that the fuel pressure began to drop. The pilot switched to the left tank and the fuel smell subsided and the fuel pressure stabilized. As the airplane neared the destination airport the fuel pressure began to drop again. The engine quit while the airplane was on a downwind leg for runway 04. The pilot switched fuel tanks again but was unable to get the engine restarted. The pilot made an off-airport landing in dense brush and small trees short of the runway. The pilot reported the airplane had 10 gallons of fuel remaining in the left tank and 20-30 gallons in the right tank at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane by NTSB was performed on August 8, 2006. The fuselage was on a flat-bed trailer that was used to transport the airplane from Nashville. It was observed that the outlet fuel line from the engine-driven fuel pump to the carburetor was disconnected at the fuel pump fitting. Recovery personnel indicated that they had not removed or detached any fuel lines during the airplane recovery. The fuel pump fitting had slight corrosion on the outlet fitting. The fuel line was blocked with insect material, especially at the mid point of the line where a fuel-flow transducer was installed. The insect material was fresh and evidence indicates had entered the fuel line after the accident. The gascolator screen was examined and found clean; the fuel screen in the carburetor was removed and noted as clean. The fuel line was cleared of debris and reattached. The insect debris was cleared from the fuel line and the fuel line was reconnected. The propeller, which had been bent in the accident, was removed, straightened, and reinstalled. The engine was primed and started. The engine started immediately and was run at 1,200 RPM for a few minutes before being shut down. The engine was run on both the left and right magnetos during the engine run. The fuel screen in the carburetor was checked after the engine run and noted as clean. The engine had been modified to deliver 160 HP and at that time had the fuel flow transducer installed in the fuel line between the fuel pump and the carburetor. The aircraft had flown 49.5 hours since the modification which was done during the last annual inspection on September 5, 2005 at total aircraft time 2,213.4 hours.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:27 CDT
Nearest AirportCornelia Fort Airpark (1nm)
Runway04
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN3454K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorArthur Quinn
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsAvco Lycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 140
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 55 · Second Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 13 kt, gusting 16 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54
Altimeter29.97 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data