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

April 27, 2020 · Piper PA32RT 300 · N772SG

Meridianville, AL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 27, 2020
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Meridianville, AL
Aircraft
Piper PA32RT 300 (1978)
Tail Number
N772SG
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA20LA164

The pilot reported that, during approach, the airplane was too fast and high, so he performed a slip maneuver to increase the descent rate. The pilot then added power to arrest the descent rate; however, the engine did not respond. The pilot executed a forced landing into a field about 1,600 ft short of the runway threshold, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. Twenty-five gallons of fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank and 7 gallons of fuel was recovered from the right fuel tank. The fuel tank selector valve was positioned to the right tank. The engine was successfully started and run at idle power following the accident and no anomalies were noted. The pilot’s operating handbook stated that certain extreme maneuvers, including slip maneuvers, could result in unporting of the fuel supply if the selected fuel tank is not full. It is likely that the fuel unported from the right fuel tank during the slip maneuver, resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's slip maneuver with a less than full fuel tank selected, which resulted in unporting of the fuel supply, and a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

Full Narrative

On April 27, 2020, at 1735 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, N772SG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Meridianville, Tennessee. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, while on final approach to runway 36, he determined that the airplane was too high and too fast, so he reduced the engine power to idle and performed a forward slip to the left for about 5 seconds. He then applied engine power to arrest the descent rate; however, the engine did not respond. The pilot stated that there was little time to perform remedial actions to restore power, although he did check the fuel pump and cycle the throttle before executing a forced landing in the field leading up to the runway. Postaccident, the pilot reported that he "may have unported the fuel uptake during the slip." He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the loss the engine power on final approach. Inspection of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane was intact and came to rest upright in the field about 1,600 ft from the runway threshold. Both wings sustained substantial damage. During recovery, 25 and 7 gallons of fuel were removed from the airplane's right and left fuel tanks, respectively. The fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank. The engine was successfully started twice and allowed to idle during post accident examination. Higher power settings were not attempted due to safety concerns. No anomalies were noted with the engine during the examination. The airplane's pilot operating handbook stated in part: The shape of the wing fuel tanks is such that in certain maneuvers the fuel may move away from the tank outlet. If the outlet is uncovered, the fuel flow will be interrupted and a temporary loss of power may result. Pilots can prevent inadvertent uncovering of the outlet by avoiding maneuvers which could result in uncovering the outlet. Prolonged slips or skids which result in excess of 2000 ft of altitude loss, or other radical or extreme maneuvers which could cause uncovering of the fuel outlet must be avoided as fuel flow interruption may occur when tank being used is not full.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:35 CDT
Nearest AirportHuntsville Executive Tom Sharp (1nm S)
Runway36
Runway Length6500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA32RT 300
Tail NumberN772SG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1G5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 58 · Third Class · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 43 C
Altimeter30.18 inHg
Observation Time22:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data