Accident Piper PA-23-250 N4857P, Saturday 16 April 1994

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Date:	Saturday 16 April 1994
Time:	14:23 LT
Type:	Piper PA-23-250
Owner/operator:	Aero Flight Service, Inc.
Registration:	N4857P
MSN:	27-430
Year of manufacture:	1961
Total airframe hrs:	3166 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-540-A1D5
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Margate, FL - United States of America
Phase:	Unknown
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Lakeland, FL (KLAL)
Destination airport:	Ft Lauderdale, FL (FXE
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
WHILE DESCENDING TO LAND BOTH ENGINES FAILED DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT FOR A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A LIGHT POLE THEN THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST ADJACENT TO A HOUSE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE FUEL SELECTORS WERE POSITIONED TO THE INBOARD TANKS WHICH CONTAINED LESS THAN A TOTAL OF 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL. THE LEFT AND RIGHT OUTBOARD FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 9 AND 13 GALLONS RESPECTIVELY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT MOVE THE FUEL SELECTORS DURING THE FLIGHT.

Probable Cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO POSITION THE FUEL SELECTORS TO THE FULLEST TANK BEFORE LANDING RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM BOTH ENGINES DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.

Accident investigation: