ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 37090
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| Date: | Sunday 5 April 1998 |
| Time: | 16:38 LT |
| Type: |  Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche |
| Owner/operator: | Clifford Mark Wilson |
| Registration: | N7845Y |
| MSN: | 30-925 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6604 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming IO-320-B1A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | McMechen, 3 miles from Moundsville, West Virginia -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Moundsville, WV (74D |
| Wheeling, WV (KHLG) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Three days prior to the accident flight, the pilot/owner landed at his home airport where no fuel was available. The pilot reported to witnesses that during the flight home he had run the auxiliary tanks empty and had nearly exhausted his fuel supply. On the day of the accident, the pilot researched area airports for fuel prices 'cheaper' than the nearest fuel stop, and stated he had '...an hour's worth of fuel on board.' Immediately after takeoff, witnesses described a loss of engine power on one and then both engines. The airplane collided with terrain 3 miles from the departure airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed approximately one gallon of fuel on board with no evidence of spillage at the scene. Both fuel selectors were in the 'crossfeed' position. The fuel system was recently overhauled and all fuel pumps were operational. Examination of the airframe and engines revealed no pre-impact anomalies. Examination of fuel records and aircraft flight times revealed the airplane had flown approximately 5 hours after its last fuel service.
Probable Cause: The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning and preparation which resulted in fuel exhaustion during takeoff.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB IAD98FA042
FAA register: 2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=7845Y
Location
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 07-Apr-2017 22:17 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 07-Apr-2017 22:25 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Narrative] |
| 07-Apr-2024 13:52 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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